EDXRF Application Note: Gold Processing

Gold ore processors commonly utilize the cyanide leaching technique to recover trace gold content. After the gold is leached out of the ore, it is typically absorbed onto activated carbon in processes such as Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP), Carbon-in-Leach (CIL), or Carbon Column (CC). Once absorbed, the gold is stripped from the Carbon and the impregnated stripping solution fed into the electrowinning process where the gold is recovered by electrolysis. By measuring the gold in the stripping solution at-line, operators can quickly and easily determine when the solution will be barren of gold, significantly improving the plant’s efficiency. This application note demonstrates the at-line analysis of gold in impregnated stripping solutions during the electrowinning process.