Activated carbon for gold recovery

Activated carbon plays a key role in the gold refining process. Its ultra-high porosity makes it a powerful adsorbent for recovering gold from cyanide solutions. The metal ore is ground and reacted with the cyanide solution to form a gold-cyanide complex, which is then adsorbed by the activated carbon and recovered. Activated carbon properties such as adsorption capacity, adsorption rate, and particle size distribution are crucial for gold recovery. Coconut shell activated carbon, the most commonly used type, is ideal for gold extraction due to its exceptional hardness and porous structure.

Steps to Separate Gold from Carbon

Gold is separated from carbon through a process called elution. This process is used to remove gold adsorbed or loaded on the surface of the activated carbon, thereby recovering the gold in a concentrated form. The following is a general overview of how gold is separated from carbon:

Loaded carbon: Activated carbon adsorbs gold after it is used to adsorb gold from cyanide solutions during the gold extraction process. The gold particles are fixed to the surface of the activated carbon.

Elution process: The gold-loaded carbon is introduced into an elution column or container. A cyanide solution mixed with sodium hydroxide or other suitable eluent is passed through the column. The cyanide solution acts to desorb or strip the gold from the surface of the activated carbon.

Desorption of Gold: As the hot cyanide solution flows through the column, it breaks the bonds between the gold particles and the activated carbon. This process releases the gold from the carbon surface, allowing it to dissolve into the solution.

Eluate Collection: The gold-bearing eluate, i.e. the solution containing dissolved gold, is collected from the elution process. This solution now contains the gold that was previously adsorbed on the activated carbon.

Gold Recovery: Gold recovered from the eluate can be further processed to produce high-purity gold through methods such as electrolytic deposition, reducing agent precipitation or other refining processes.

Carbon Regeneration: After elution, the stripped or bare activated carbon still retains its adsorption capacity and can be regenerated for reuse in the gold recovery process. This involves removing any remaining gold or impurities from the carbon through thermal treatment or chemical regeneration methods.

The elution process effectively separates the gold from the activated carbon, allowing the gold to be recovered in concentrated form from the eluate. The recovered gold can then be further refined or processed to produce high-quality gold products.

Activated carbon has become an indispensable solution for gold recovery, facilitating efficient gold recovery from cyanide solutions through its superior adsorption properties. Guangyuan Carbon specializes in providing high-quality activated carbon tailored for gold recovery, boasting exceptional adsorption capacity and robust properties crucial for optimizing gold extraction processes. Contact us today to access premium activated carbon solutions designed to enhance your gold recovery operations and ensure maximum efficiency.

· Fujian Guangyuan Carbon Products Co.,Ltd.