The gold can be removed anodically in strong sulfuric acid with little or no

damage to the aluminum. Some alloys will possibly be pitted, but I have never
had any problems with the alloys I have worked with. The original US patent
on this is #2185858 - search for this in Google Patents. Although Al is not
mentioned in the patent, gold can be stripped from most metals successfully
using this method. The only problems I have had were with high nickel or
cobalt alloys.

I would dilute concentrated sulfuric acid with 5%, by volume, distilled water
(add the acid to the water!). Let it cool before you use it. Concentrated sulfuric
will work, but a little water speeds up the stripping. The patent uses weaker
sulfuric but, in my experience, that is more likely to pit. Most any metal can be
used as the cathode, but I prefer mild steel. Just about any kind of wire can be
used to suspend the part.

Start with zero voltage/amperage and slowly crank it up. At first, the amps will
be high and the voltage will be quite low. As the gold strips, the amps will
decrease and the voltage will increase. Keep turning it up to maintain the
amperage. When the voltage is somewhere between 6 and 8, don't make any
further adjustments. At some point, when all the gold is stripped, the
amperage will automatically go to zero - this will tell you when it is finished.

With too high an amperage, the solution will get quite hot. When adjusting the
rectifier, I wouldn't allow the solution temperature to go above about 110F.
The hotter the solution, the more likely the Al will pit. Just about any volt/amp
combination will work, but I would suggest trying the parameters that I have
suggested, to reduce the possibility of pitting. Watch the temperature!

The gold dissolves only momentarily and then is reduced to gold powder. All
the gold can be collected by first allowing it to settle to the bottom of the tank.