Gold elution using the Alcohol process

MICRON PROCESS

CLIVE MUTO and TATENDA MUSHIPE

 Equipment
• Distillation tower
• Heater
• Over head condenser
• Reflux pump
• Reflux drum
• Loaded carbon as tower packing
Circuit configuration
B a

A
C

E
 KEY
• A - CONDENSER
• B - REFLUX PUMP
• C - REFLUX DRUM
• D - DISTILATION TOWER
• E - HEATER
 PRESOAK

• Carbon soaked in a solution of 2% NaoH and

10% NaCN @ ambient temp
NB carbons with high concentration of gold
require a solution of at least 20% of NaCN
• The solution is drained from the carbon until
free of excess moisture.
 Desorption
• 0.5 Bed volume of alcohol (methyl alcohol) is
added to the drained carbon bed.
-acertonitrile may be used in place of the
alcohol but its very expensive
• Heat is then applied to the base of the
desorption vessel
• Organic vapours rises through the carbon bed
and are condensed in the overhead
condenser.
 Desorption
• The condensate is pumped back to the top of
the carbon bed and is sprayed on the carbon.
• The down flowing of the condensate washes
the gold values from the carbon into the boiler
section below.
 Alcohol recovery
• Gold solution concentration reaches a constant level in the
boiler, this markes end of adsorption and beginning of
alcohol recovery.
• The condensate recycle spray is stopped and alcohol is
allowed to boil out of the pregnant solution.
• The boiling is terminated when the temperature in the
column richies the boiling point of the solution
• The pregnant solution is then drained from the desorption
vessel
• The carbon is then steam stripped to recover residual
alcohol.
 REFERENCES
• 1. BAILEY.P.R. Application of activated carbon of
gold recovery.The Extractive Metallurgy of gold in
South Africa.Stanley, G.G(ed).jonneshu g, South
African institute of Mining and
Metallurgy,1978.pp.379-614
• 2.MUIR.D.M.HINCUFFE.W.D ,and
GRIFFIN,A.Elution of gold from carbon by the
best micron solvent procedure.
• 3. Zadra,J.B.,Engel,A.K.,Heinen,H.J.,1952
4.J.O.Marsden and C L, House The Chemistry of
gold extraction, society for Mining Metallurgy and
Exploration,Littleton,Colorado., Chapter to,2nd .ed.