A. Fricker
1993
Citations
0
Influential Citations
8
Citations
Journal
Journal of Cleaner Production
Abstract
Abstract Sodium cyanide is used in the extraction of gold from its ores. It, and many of its derivatives, are acutely toxic to humans and aquatic life. The awareness of environmental impacts has been heightened in the last decade, the effects of which are appearing in greater restrictions on discharges and emissions. A company has been recovering residual cyanide from its tailings in a process not dissimilar to one practised over 60 years ago. This admirable development, however, is an ‘end of pipe’ solution. Cyanide recovery has been investigated through the concept of cleaner production. There would be a 20% increase in the recovery of cyanide by removing it as soon as the gold has dissolved and before carbon adsorption. The presence of a cyanide recovery circuit would enable leaching to be conducted at a pH of around 9 instead of the conventional 10.5, with a consequential halving in consumption of pH modifying reagents. There are several other economic and environmental advantages.