1 Get protective gear. Be sure to wear a face mask, safety glasses, and industrial gloves. Chemicals and acids can irritate or even burn through your skin. Fumes from burning acids can also hurt your eyes and cause nausea when inhaled.

2 Purchase concentrated nitric acid. Nitric acid is a clear liquid chemical commonly used for various industrial, steel, and wood works. You can purchase nitric acid from industrial or chemical shops. In some states and countries, however, you might be prohibited from buying nitric acid or you might have to meet certain standards before you’re allowed to purchase it. Check with your local authorities before purchasing. Nitric acid is a clear liquid chemical commonly used for various industrial, steel, and wood works. You can purchase nitric acid from industrial or chemical shops.

3 Put your circuit boards in a glass container. The container should preferably be Pyrex glassware or the kind that can withstand extreme heat. Break the circuit boards into smaller pieces before you put them in the glass container.

Do not use plastic containers as the acid might burn right through it. The container should preferably be Pyrex glassware or the kind that can withstand extreme heat.

4 Pour the concentrated nitric acid into the glass container with the circuit boards. As you put the acid in, burning fumes will start to come out of the container, so make sure you’re wearing protective gear.

5 Stir the mixture using a glass rod until the contents become fluid in form. Since gold requires stronger chemicals to be dissolved, the nitric acid will melt all the plastic and metal parts of the circuit board without harming the gold bits.

6 Drain the nitric acid from the mixture. Use a filter to separate the solid parts from the liquid.