Abstract: A self-contained portable device for quickly and efficiently recovering a precious metal, such as gold, from bimetallically coated substrate material, such as printed circuit board connectors or tabs. The base metal to which the desired precious metal is bonded must be soluable in nitric acid and be partially exposed. The device includes a processing chamber into which the material to be processed is placed. An etching solution, having a prescribed composition that typically includes nitric acid and at least one effervescent compound, is used to dissolve away the base metal, causing a tunneling effect to free the desired precious metal. Selected agitation, coupled with the frothing action of the effervescent compound(s), greatly enhance the rate at which the precious metal is freed from the bimetallic material. Recirculation of the etching solution from a storage tank to the processing chamber, and vice versa, allows a relatively small amount of the etching solution to be used.