• Man used chemicals to extract gold from old phone SIM cards

• He warned against replicating the process due to risks and legal issues

A Chinese media report stated that a man named Qiao successfully extracted gold from old SIM cards, sparking widespread interest online and temporarily increasing demand for these cards.

In a video he posted online on January 20, Qiao explained the extraction process he followed, noting that the cards contain a thin gold layer used to increase their durability, and that the process is not limited to phone cards but also applies to some computer chips.

The man indicated that he used about two tonnes of old electronic cards and treated them with various chemicals until he obtained a shiny, semi-liquid substance. He then completed heating and refining, ultimately producing 191 grams of gold.

Qiao emphasized that his experiment was part of his work in recycling electronic waste and that he was fully knowledgeable about the procedures used. However, he cautioned against attempting to replicate the process at home due to serious risks and noted that in many cases it could also be illegal.