RECYCLING IC CHIPS
Free evaluation and pickup of your surplus industrial electronic material
JHI IS ARIZONA'S SPECIALIST IN RECYCLING IC CHIPS
Ball Grid Array (BGA) IC (Integrated Circuit) chips contain precious metals, including gold, palladium, silver and copper; valuable materials to reap out of the recycling process, and JHI is very capable of full-metal extraction.
Recycling IC Chips is an excellent way to derive value from older, potentially-sunsetted systems in which they are used.
There are a variety of chips in the current market, and as the explosion of “smart” electronics continues, there will continue to be a corresponding level of growth in the IC market. Further, the technology behind the Integrated Circuit development continues to progress. Seemingly on a day-to-day basis. Thus, IC chip technology rapidly becomes obsolete.
This creates a vast market for recycle and reuse (if applicable). JHI’s principal focus regarding the IC Chip is recycling, and with good reason.
There are a number of methods to use in recycling IC Chips, and JHI is well-versed in all current practices.
In all things recycling, JHI strives constantly to maintain a minimal footprint with regard to the environment, so some of the current methods in use to extract precious metals while recycling IC Chips are not practices that JHI applies.
In order to minimize the problem of pollution and to conserve limited natural resources, a method to recover the valuable metals such as gold, silver and copper present in the scrap integrated circuits involves roasting, grinding, screening, magnetic separation, melting and leaching is used to efficiently recover said precious metals.
ARIZONA'S USED IT EQUIPMENT BUYERS
First, JHI roasts scrap integrated circuit chips to 850 C to destroy their plastic resin sealing material. Then we apply screening and magnetic separation to separate the metals from the resin residue. The non-ferrous materials are mainly comprised of copper and could be melted into a copper alloy. Non-ferrous materials containing gold, silver and copper were recovered at 100% by a leaching process in which thiourea was used as the leaching agent.
JHI selectively disassembles the IC Chip with a singular focus on weeding out hazardous and/or valuable components, which is indispensable in recycling IC Chips. Mechanical/physical processing provides an alternative means of recovering valuable materials.
Mechanical processes, such as screening, shape separation, magnetic separation, eddy-current separation, electrostatic separation, and jiggling are widely utilized. To take the process one step further, JHI tries to shred Chip materials typically below 5-10mm.
Consumer electronic equipment (brown goods), such as television sets, video recorders are most common, and its very costly to manually dismantle such products (mainly because brown goods contain very low-grade precious metals and copper. JHI employs a mechanical recycling process as part of our initial IC Chip recycling.
So, as evidenced by the extensive process that is used to distill precious metals from used and discarded IC Chips, they to hold considerable value in precious metals, so recycling for extraction and reuse of materials provides worthwhile cost-benefit.
AJHI IS ARIZONA'S SPECIALIST IN RECYCLING IC CHIPS
Ball Grid Array (BGA) IC (Integrated Circuit) chips contain precious metals, including gold, palladium, silver and copper; valuable materials to reap out of the recycling process, and JHI is very capable of full-metal extraction.
Recycling IC Chips is an excellent way to derive value from older, potentially-sunsetted systems in which they are used.
There are a variety of chips in the current market, and as the explosion of “smart” electronics continues, there will continue to be a corresponding level of growth in the IC market. Further, the technology behind the Integrated Circuit development continues to progress. Seemingly on a day-to-day basis. Thus, IC chip technology rapidly becomes obsolete.
This creates a vast market for recycle and reuse (if applicable). JHI’s principal focus regarding the IC Chip is recycling, and with good reason.
There are a number of methods to use in recycling IC Chips, and JHI is well-versed in all current practices.
In all things recycling, JHI strives constantly to maintain a minimal footprint with regard to the environment, so some of the current methods in use to extract precious metals while recycling IC Chips are not practices that JHI applies.
In order to minimize the problem of pollution and to conserve limited natural resources, a method to recover the valuable metals such as gold, silver and copper present in the scrap integrated circuits involves roasting, grinding, screening, magnetic separation, melting and leaching is used to efficiently recover said precious metals.
ARIZONA'S USED IT EQUIPMENT BUYERS
First, JHI roasts scrap integrated circuit chips to 850 C to destroy their plastic resin sealing material. Then we apply screening and magnetic separation to separate the metals from the resin residue. The non-ferrous materials are mainly comprised of copper and could be melted into a copper alloy. Non-ferrous materials containing gold, silver and copper were recovered at 100% by a leaching process in which thiourea was used as the leaching agent.
JHI selectively disassembles the IC Chip with a singular focus on weeding out hazardous and/or valuable components, which is indispensable in recycling IC Chips. Mechanical/physical processing provides an alternative means of recovering valuable materials.
Mechanical processes, such as screening, shape separation, magnetic separation, eddy-current separation, electrostatic separation, and jiggling are widely utilized. To take the process one step further, JHI tries to shred Chip materials typically below 5-10mm.
Consumer electronic equipment (brown goods), such as television sets, video recorders are most common, and its very costly to manually dismantle such products (mainly because brown goods contain very low-grade precious metals and copper. JHI employs a mechanical recycling process as part of our initial IC Chip recycling.
So, as evidenced by the extensive process that is used to distill precious metals from used and discarded IC Chips, they to hold considerable value in precious metals, so recycling for extraction and reuse of materials provides worthwhile cost-benefit.
USED IT EQUIPMENT BUYERS in Arizona
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Processing your test lab equipment, excess IC's & other electronic components, industrial controls, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
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Electronics are evaluated for potential reuse or if that's not feasible, then they are responsibly recycled.
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Scrap IC Chip Recycling in Phoenix, AZ
To recycle IC chips, separate them from circuit boards and sort them by type, such as ceramic, plastic, BGA or CPU. Then either resell the working parts or recycle the rest so the gold, silver, palladium and copper are recovered. Jay Hoehl Inc. (JHI) offers free evaluation and pickup of scrap IC chips and excess integrated circuits for Phoenix businesses.
Scrap IC Chips We Accept in Phoenix
JHI accepts scrap IC chips and excess integrated circuits from Phoenix-area manufacturers, repair shops and IT departments, including:
- Ball Grid Array (BGA) chips
- Processors and CPUs, ceramic and fiber
- Ceramic and plastic integrated circuits (ICs) and other semiconductors
- Populated circuit boards (see our circuit board scrap grading guide)
- Connectors with gold contacts
- Excess, new IC stock in reels, trays or cut tape (see how we handle excess IC stock)
Electronics are evaluated for potential reuse first. Material that can't be reused goes to precious-metal recovery, so the metals are reclaimed instead of landfilled.
Common Ways to Recycle IC Chips
| Method | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Resale and reuse | Working, new or vintage ICs, microcontrollers, memory and CPUs | A working or sought-after chip can be worth more as a part than as scrap. |
| Selling as bulk e-scrap | Mixed, used or pulled chips | Value depends on the type and the weight. Sorted lots are easier to grade. |
| Commercial refining | Large lots of high-grade material | Industrial processes recover gold, silver, platinum and palladium under environmental controls. |
| DIY chemical recovery | Not recommended | It uses strong acids and heat, gives off toxic fumes, creates hazardous waste, and small batches yield only traces of gold. |
Do All IC Chips Contain Gold?
No. Many chips contain a little gold, but the amount varies widely. Gold is found mainly in the fine bond wires inside the package and in gold-plated legs, lids and contacts. Older ceramic packages, gold-cap processors and military or vintage chips usually contain the most. Modern plastic (epoxy) chips often use copper or aluminum bond wire, so they contain very little gold and are valued mostly by weight. Learn more in which parts of electronics have gold.
How Much Are Scrap IC Chips Worth?
The value of scrap IC chips depends on the package type, age, grade and weight, and on current precious-metal prices. The table shows how common chip types usually compare:
| Chip type | Typical relative value |
|---|---|
| Ceramic ICs with gold caps and gold legs (vintage, military) | Highest |
| Gold-cap ceramic CPUs (older processors) | High |
| Ceramic ICs with gold legs or gold caps only | Medium to high |
| Fiber and ceramic CPUs without gold caps | Medium |
| BGA chips with gold tabs | Medium to low |
| Plastic ICs with gold legs | Low to medium |
| Standard modern plastic ICs and EPROMs, mixed | Low (valued by weight) |
Because the value moves with the metals market and depends on the grade, we quote after we see what you have.
How to Sort Scrap IC Chips Before Recycling
- Separate ceramic from plastic. Ceramic packages are hard and usually white, gray or brown. Plastic packages are black epoxy.
- Pull out gold-cap and gold-leg chips. They are graded on their own.
- Keep CPUs separate from other ICs. Group them by type if you can.
- Keep new, sealed stock in its packaging. New ICs in original reels or trays may be reusable, so don't mix them with scrap.
- Don't strip boards just to save chips. Populated boards are accepted as they are, so you can skip the time and the hazards of desoldering.
Why You Shouldn't Extract Gold From Chips at Home
Home recovery usually involves burning off plastic resin and using acids such as aqua regia or nitric acid. Both release toxic fumes and leave hazardous liquid waste that can pollute soil and water. Small batches yield only traces of gold, often not enough to cover the chemicals. Commercial e-waste recyclers handle this material under environmental regulations. The U.S. EPA explains the risks of unsafe e-waste processing and why responsible electronics recycling matters.
How to Recycle IC Chips With JHI
- Call (602) 272-4033 or use our contact form. Tell us what kinds of chips you have and roughly how much.
- We evaluate your surplus material for free.
- We pick it up from your business, or you drop it off at 3334 W McDowell Rd Ste 17, Phoenix, AZ 85009.
Do you also have excess electronic components that were never used? See our excess inventory management service.
Recycling IC Chips FAQ
Can computer chips be recycled?
Yes. Computer chips can be resold if they still work, or recycled to recover gold, silver, palladium and copper. Our guide can computer chips be recycled explains how.
What are computer chips worth as scrap?
It depends on the type. Old gold-cap ceramic ICs and CPUs are worth the most. Modern plastic chips are worth the least and are valued mostly by weight. Sorting your chips by type helps you get the right grade.
How much gold is in an IC chip?
Very little per chip. Gold is in tiny bond wires and in plating. A handful of modern plastic chips contains only traces. Older ceramic and gold-plated chips contain more, which is why they are worth more as scrap.
Is it profitable to recover gold from chips yourself?
For most people, no. Small batches yield traces of gold, and the chemicals are dangerous, costly and may need permits to handle and dispose of. Selling sorted chips to a recycler is safer and usually makes more sense.
Are old chips from a parts drawer or a dumpster find worth anything?
They can be. Vintage, gold-leg or ceramic chips have scrap value, and some working vintage chips are worth more as parts. Send us photos or a rough description and we can evaluate them.
Should I remove chips from circuit boards before recycling?
You don't have to. JHI accepts populated circuit boards, so you can avoid the time and the hazards of desoldering. If you already have loose chips, keep them sorted by type.
Are motherboards worth scrapping?
Yes. Motherboards and other circuit boards contain copper and precious metals in their chips, connectors and contacts. Boards are graded by type. See our circuit board scrap grading guide.
Why don't companies reuse chips from old hardware?
Removing and testing individual chips costs more than many of them are worth, and many older chips are obsolete. That's why most used chips are recycled for their metals, while new or still-useful stock is resold.
Do you pick up scrap IC chips in Phoenix?
Yes. JHI offers free evaluation and pickup of surplus industrial electronic material, including scrap ICs, for businesses in the Phoenix area. Call (602) 272-4033.