Refining

Refining is where assayed metal becomes bar-grade. We separate valuable gold from waste material using an improved aqua regia process, and our refinery uses current-generation technology to reach the highest achievable purity.

The process

The assayed metal is dissolved in aqua regia — a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid, one of the few reagents that will dissolve gold. Gold is then selectively precipitated out of solution, separating it from silver, base metals and any residual alloy content. The precipitate is washed, dried, and cast into bar or atomised into grain.

Output

We achieve output fineness of 995 and 999.9, matching the grades we offer in finished bars and grain. See our products for the full specification. Every bar we cast is serial numbered and recorded against its assay result before it leaves the refinery.

Lot sizes and turnaround

The minimum lot is 1kg. The refinery has a capacity of 400kg per day, so lots well above the minimum are routine. Turnaround for a standard lot is 24 hours; larger lots are scheduled on intake and the return date is confirmed with you before processing starts.

What you receive

• Refined metal in the form agreed at intake: cast bars at 995 or 999.9, or grain at 999.9
• A serial number on every bar, struck at cast and recorded against the assay result
• The assay certificate for the lot, stating the fineness that settlement was based on
• Settlement immediately after the assay result — by bank transfer in AED, or in metal if you would rather hold bars or grain than cash

Sending metal for refining

Refining runs through the same account as our other services. Once your account is open, metal reaches us through our Dubai office, which handles collection and client logistics, and is transferred to Sharjah for processing. Clients outside the UAE should follow the shipping and hand-carry guidance in the foreign-company checklist on the Open an account page.

Waste & environmental handling

Refining produces process waste — spent acid, wash water and residual base metals — that has to be treated and disposed of correctly, not melted down and forgotten. Our ISO 14001 environmental management certification covers exactly this. See Compliance for our full accreditation list.