A complete gold refinery system is an integrated processing line that converts gold jewellery scrap into 99.99% pure gold. This type of system is specifically engineered for 18K scrap feeds, which typically contain gold, silver, copper, zinc, nickel and soldering metals.
Understanding Your Feed Material: 18K Gold Jewellery Scrap
18K gold jewellery scrap is one of the most common refinery feed materials. Its approximate gold content is 75%, with the remaining 25% made up of silver, copper, zinc, nickel and various soldering metals. Complete gold refinery system must include primary refining steps to remove or reduce base metals before the electrolytic stage.
Step-by-Step Glod Refining Process
The refining process is designed as a continuous, logical sequence. The main stages are:
Melting/homogenization
The 18K scrap is melted and mixed to create a uniform feed for downstream processing.
Primary refining/separation
Base metals such as copper, zinc and nickel are removed through chemical or electrochemical methods, producing a high-gold intermediate material.
Preparation of high-gold anodes/feed
The refined material is cast into anodes or prepared as suitable feed for the electrolytic gold refining cell.
Electrolytic gold refining
The high-gold anodes are dissolved electrolytically, and pure gold is deposited on cathodes. This is the key step to achieve 99.99% purity.
Washing/filtration
Gold powder or cathode deposits are washed and filtered to remove electrolyte residues.
Drying
The washed gold powder is dried to remove moisture before final melting.
Final melting/casting
The dried high-purity gold powder is melted and cast into bars or ingots with a final purity of Au 9999.
Core Equipment for a Complete Gold Refinery System
To build a reliable and efficient line from 18K scrap to 99.99% gold, the following 14 equipment modules are required:
Melting/homogenization furnace
For uniform melting of mixed 18K scrap before primary refining.
Primary refining system suitable for 18K feed
Removes silver, copper, zinc, nickel and soldering metals and produces high-gold intermediate material.
Anode preparation system
Casts or prepares the refined gold into anodes for the electrolytic cells.
Electrolytic gold refining system
The core unit that refines high-gold anodes into 99.99% gold cathodes.
Rectifier and electrical control system
Provides stable DC power and controls the electrolytic process parameters.
Electrolyte circulation and filtration system
Keeps the electrolyte clean and at the correct concentration, improving efficiency and gold recovery.
Gold powder collection system
Collects the fine gold powder deposited during electrolysis for further washing and drying.
Washing and drying equipment
Removes impurities and moisture from the gold powder before final melting.
Final melting/casting furnace
Melts the refined gold powder and casts it into Au 9999 bars or ingots.
Fume extraction and scrubber system
Captures and neutralizes fumes generated during melting and chemical processing, ensuring a safe workplace.
Wastewater treatment system
Treats process water to remove heavy metals and meet environmental discharge standards.
Precious-metal recovery from residues/sludge
Recovers gold and silver from slags, anode slimes and filter residues, maximizing total metal recovery.
Pumps, tanks, filters and piping
Connects all modules and provides reliable transfer of liquids and slurries.
PLC/control cabinet
Centralizes automation, monitoring and safety interlocks for the entire refining line.
Get Your Complete Gold Refinery Machine Quote Today
If you are planning to set up or upgrade a gold refinery for gold jewellery scrap, contact guanma machinery today for a tailored proposal and equipment quotation.
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Contact us today to discuss your project, capacity requirements, and target materials. Our team will reply within 24 hours with a customized proposal. You can also reach us directly at guanmamachinery@gmail.com — we are here to help!
