Activated carbon for gold, often referred to simply as "activated carbon" or "activated charcoal," is a specially processed form of carbon that plays a vital role in the recovery of gold from cyanide solutions in the gold mining industry.
Activated carbon for gold recovery:
The high surface area and porosity of activated carbon enables it to attract and retain gold particles, separating them from the cyanide solution. The gold is then stripped from the loaded carbon through a process called elution or stripping, allowing the gold to be recovered in a concentrated form.
The adsorption capacity of activated carbon for gold can vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of activated carbon used, its surface area, its pore structure, the concentration of gold in solution, and the specific conditions of the gold recovery process. In general, activated carbon can adsorb large amounts of gold per unit weight due to its high surface area and porous structure.
The adsorption capacity of activated carbon for gold is often measured by its loading capacity or K value, which refers to the amount of gold adsorbed per unit weight of activated carbon. This loading capacity has a wide range and is affected by the characteristics of the activated carbon and the conditions during the adsorption process.
In actual applications in the gold mining industry, activated carbon can effectively adsorb several grams of gold per ton of carbon. However, the exact amount can vary depending on the specific type of activated carbon, the concentration of gold in solution, the contact time between the carbon and the gold-bearing solution, and other process parameters.
Optimizing conditions and selecting the appropriate type of activated carbon with the correct characteristics is critical to maximizing gold adsorption capacity during gold recovery.
Activated carbon for gold recovery is specially manufactured and treated to optimize its adsorption capacity and durability. It is available in a variety of forms, including powdered, granular, or carbon pellet forms, with properties that can be tailored for specific gold recovery applications. Coconut shell activated carbon is widely favored for its superior performance in the gold recovery process.