SILVER IMPREGNATED ACTIVATED CARBON - A NEW TOOL TO CONTROL CYANIDE IN EFFLUENTS

Abstract

Cyanide control in effluents is becoming a critical environmental issue for the gold extraction industry. Silver impregnated carbon removes free cyanide effectively to the ppb level from solution in high throughput columns. By recalcining the cyanide saturated carbon, the impregnated silver is restored to activity and the cyanide destroyed. Many gold mills already have an activation kiln on site, which could make retrofit relatively easy.

KEYWORDS:

• Cyanide
• Activated carbon
• Effluent Silver