Same as #18 but instead if using warm Nitric acid place in a jar at room temperature.

Actually I've tried this before but now it's working I guess the material of epoxy is different. Plus, instead of using big chips I've used small SOT-23 transistors. This method much faster to work with as decapping takes only few seconds. 

It started as mistake, I got few transistors and few drops of nitric acid. As hour got late I just throw few transistors into the jar and left it for the day. 

After 24hours those transistors were totally dissolved. I tried to separate the acid and the remaining of transistors. I've poured water to make nitric acid concentration lower and drained the top of water. To my surprise I found that all the transistors went down the drain (!) ouch... I guess I'll have to run this experiment again. Maybe this time I will try to make better nitric acid concentration.  If not I will be forced to abandon this project 😕

It occurred to me that I using freezing water. Although it's great for better yield it might add water drops as the temperature is lower than dew point which is about 10°c today as temp outside is about 20°c, I will try using room temperature water instead. Hope to get better quality of nitric acid 

Ok, now I did everything right. I've used room temperature water, put right proportions of Sulfuric acid and nitrate salt. I got no Sulfuric acid in the end only the by product. 

BUT 

Nitrile gloves didn't catch fire so I guess the concentration is not high enough. I've dropped five SOT-23 transistors/diodes in a jar and let it sit there for 24 hours. I've expected nothing as I got exhausted from this project (20 failed experiments give a break). The interesting thing is that remains of nitric acid didn't turn green as was with hot acid. It was more brown fluid with debris of what day before was transistor/diode. 

I've careful took out shiny things using pipette. Here was a surprise I found intact lead frames and terminals.

Which was super duper strange. From what I seen until now the terminals get evaporated once nitric acid touch them. The lead frame is made of copper, it should get evaporated too. Maybe there is some hope for this project.

Although all bond wires are gone, maybe because of gentle force I used when I've shaked the bottle. Anyways another failed experiment.