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A fundamental study of gold leaching in a thiosulfate‑oxygen‑copper system in the presence of activated carbon
Journal article   Peer reviewed

A fundamental study of gold leaching in a thiosulfate‑oxygen‑copper system in the presence of activated carbon

O. Sitando, X. Dai, G. Senanayake, A.N. Nikoloski and P. Breuer
Hydrometallurgy, Vol.192, Art. 105232
2020
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Abstract

Activated carbon has been found to significantly enhance the dissolution of gold in a thiosulfate‑oxygen‑copper system. Leaching tests using gold powder showed that the gold dissolution in a thiosulfate‑oxygen‑copper system in the absence of activated carbon was very slow, with only 2% gold dissolved over 24 h. In contrast, in the presence of activated carbon as an additive the gold leach recovery was dramatically improved to over 95% in the same period. Leaching and electrochemical studies using a gold rotating disc electrode have identified two impacts of activated carbon on the dissolution of gold: 1) enhancing the oxygen reduction half reaction via galvanic interaction and; 2) enhancing the gold oxidation half reaction via removal of the surface passivation. A combination of the two effects can potentially increase the gold leach rate to the same order of magnitude as a typical cyanidation rate (10−5 mol m−2 s−1). It has also been found that the presence of copper and the use of an elevated temperature are beneficial for the gold leaching; whilst the use of oxygen instead of air and change in pH between pH 7 and pH 10 have little impact.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
7 Engineering & Materials Science
7.229 Mineral & Metal Processing
7.229.774 Bioleaching
Web Of Science research areas
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
ESI research areas
Materials Science
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