Chinese Blogger Claims 191 Grams of Gold Extracted from E-Waste, Experts Urge Caution

A blogger in Guangdong, China, has caused a stir on social media after claiming to have extracted 191.73 grams of gold from old SIM cards and electronic waste. The blogger published a video demonstrating the extraction process, which involved complex procedures such as the use of strong acids and electrolytic reduction. 

Following the viral spread of the video, many people dubbed the process 'Chip Alchemy' (the art of making gold from chips), suggesting that 'collecting scrap for one year is more profitable than working for ten years.'

While the video generated significant public curiosity, experts have revealed a different reality. Although the video claimed that one SIM card contains 0.02 grams of gold, in reality, a single card only holds 0.47 milligrams of gold. According to experts, extracting 191 grams of gold would require at least 400,000 SIM cards, which is nearly impossible for one individual to collect.

Amid the growing controversy, the blogger clarified, admitting that the materials used were not just ordinary SIM cards but special 'waste chips' plated with gold from the telecommunications sector. He stated that the video was made solely to demonstrate the process of precious metal recycling and was not intended to spread any misinformation.

Meanwhile, experts have issued a stern warning to the public against imitating such videos. They argue that the chemicals used in the gold extraction process are highly toxic, posing serious safety risks and causing significant environmental pollution. 

Experts concluded that attempting such experiments at home without technical knowledge and safety precautions is life-threatening.