Activated Carbon Selection and Performance Criteria for Gold

The cyanidation leaching process for gold production includes both the heap and tank leaching methods. The critical step in these processes is enriching gold with high efficiency, speed and low cost using selective adsorption of gold-containing compounds by activated carbon.

The performance of activated carbon is directly related to the following elements:

1. Gold Purification Production Rate: Gold adsorption rate per unit time.
2. Loss Rate During Gold Adsorption.

After the design and construction of the mine are completed, the number and total volume of activated carbon canisters are determined according to the determined values. Choosing activated carbon with high gold adsorption capacity can contribute to a higher gold production rate by extending the regeneration cycle.

R-Value Test: To extract gold, 1 g of activated carbon is added to 1 litre of gold solution of a specific concentration (e.g. 10mg/L) and the remaining gold solution concentration is tested every 10 minutes until the end of 60 minutes. This simple calculation obtains the R-value.

Generally speaking, with a higher K value, activated carbon should have a higher specific surface area or a higher iodine adsorption value. Moreover, activated carbon for gold recovery requires most of the micropores.

Activation and carbonization are used to increase its micropores in the activated carbon production process. If the iodine value is provided, the strength, which is related to the rate of loss of gold during the gold absorption process, is also significant.

Carbontech produces and supplies coconut shell activated carbon with excellent capacity and hardness using imported coconut shell varieties. Iodine adsorption values are 1000-1200 mg/g, and hardness values are over 98%, respectively.

Under the same K and R values, choosing activated carbon with higher iodine value and hardness is an effective strategy to reduce production costs and increase efficiency during gold sorption.