How to Make Pure Gold

The Miller and Wohlwill Processes

Manhattan Gold & Silver | 45 W 47th Street | New York, NY 10036 | 212-398-1454
 Refining Pure Gold
• Many industries require samples of pure gold.
– However, pure gold is extremely rare in traditional mining.

• Pure gold must be created by professional metal

refiners.

• Two popular techniques for creating pure gold are

the Miller Process and the Wohlwill Process.

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www.mgsrefining.com | 212-398-1454
 Miller Process Materials
• Dr. Francis Bowyer Miller rocked the world of gold
refining when he created a cheap and easy way to
purify gold – the Miller Process.

• The Miller Process requires these components:

– Sample of impure gold
– Induction furnace
– Graphite crucible
– Chlorine gas

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www.mgsrefining.com | 212-398-1454
How the Miller Process Works
• Gold is inert to a majority of chemicals. Its impurities
(such as zinc, copper and iron) are not.

• The first step in the Miller Process is to use an

induction furnace to melt the gold sample in a
crucible.

• Once the sample is liquefied pure chlorine gas is

blown across it.
– This causes the impurities to form chlorides which rise to
the top of the crucible.

2013 © Manhattan Gold & Silver

www.mgsrefining.com | 212-398-1454
How the Miller Process Works
• The final step is to skim the chlorides off the
surface of the melted gold.

• Once the chlorides have been removed the

gold that remains is about 99.95% pure gold…

• But for some applications that isn’t pure

enough.

2013 © Manhattan Gold & Silver

www.mgsrefining.com | 212-398-1454
 Wohlwill Process Materials
• Hans Emil Wohlwill developed a method to create
even purer samples of gold – the Wohlwill Process.
– However, it’s much more expensive and complex than
the Miller Process.

• The Wohlwill Process requires:

– An anode – an electrode through which electric current
flows into a polarized electrical device.
– An cathode – an electrode through which electric current
flows out of a polarized electrical device.
– An electrolyte – an electrically conductive substance.

2013 © Manhattan Gold & Silver

www.mgsrefining.com | 212-398-1454
 The Anode, Cathode,
and Electrolyte
• Each component is made of gold.

– The anode is made of somewhat impure gold,

about 95% purity or higher. (Lower purity will
reduce the efficiency of the Wohlwill Process).
– The cathode is made out of pure 24k gold sheets.
– The electrolyte is pure chloroauric acid which is
made by dissolving gold in aqua regia.

2013 © Manhattan Gold & Silver

www.mgsrefining.com | 212-398-1454
 How the Wohlwill Process Works
• With the components properly arranged an electric
current is applied.

• Electricity travels from the anode through the

conductive electrolyte and into the cathode.
– When this occurs the gold in the impure anode dissolves
and its ions travel through the chloroauric acid then
electroplate or “stick” to the 24k gold cathode.

• This Wohlwill Process continues until the anode is

completely dissolved.
– The pure gold cathode is then melted down to be used.

2013 © Manhattan Gold & Silver

www.mgsrefining.com | 212-398-1454
 Miller vs. Wohlwill
• To perform the Wohlwill Process a refiner
must have enough gold for anodes, cathodes
and chloroauric acid.
– It takes gold to make gold.

• Unless ultra-high purity gold is needed the

Miller Process is the preferred way to purify
gold.

2013 © Manhattan Gold & Silver

www.mgsrefining.com | 212-398-1454
 About MGS
• Manhattan Gold & Silver (MGS) is a precious metals refiner that has been
based in Manhattan’s historic Diamond District since 1985. We are a B2B
company that buys and recycles precious metal scraps that accumulate in
other businesses.

• We serve:
– Jewelers
– Pawnbrokers
– Dentists
– The industrial sector
– Antique dealers
– Machinists
– And more!

• MGS also creates charts, calculators, and other online tools for our
customers to use.
– Try our Precious Metals Prices app, which lets you monitor the real-time precious metals
market situation from anywhere, right from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

Manhattan Gold & Silver | 45 W 47th Street | New York, NY 10036 | 212-398-1454
 Recycle your Precious
Metals for Profit
• MGS accepts gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

• Payouts are based on the London Fixing.

• Up to 99% payout (among the highest in the US)

– Up to 98.5% for gold brought in for hand testing.

• Not in NYC? Ship us your precious metals using our

Ship & Sell service which offers:
– Same day wired payment (once lot is received)
– Discounted, insured shipping
– Payout calculator

Manhattan Gold & Silver | 45 W 47th Street | New York, NY 10036 | 212-398-1454
 Connect with MGS
• For amazing facts, history and news, read our gold and precious
metals blog.

• Join the conversation about precious metals on the MGS page on

Facebook.

• Follow gold, silver, and other precious metal trends at the MGS
Twitter account.

• Circle MGS on Google+ to hear our latest updates.

• If you do business with us, connect with us on the MGS LinkedIn

page.

• To see precious metal melting and refinement in action, visit the

MGS YouTube channel.

Manhattan Gold & Silver | 45 W 47th Street | New York, NY 10036 | 212-398-1454