Adsorption of gold-cyanide complex (Au(CN)2-) on nanoporous carbon and carbon spheres

Sherwood, A., Yin, C-Y and Hampton, M. (2013) Adsorption of gold-cyanide complex (Au(CN)2-) on nanoporous carbon and carbon spheres. In: Australian Nanotechnology Network Early Career Researcher Symposium, 25 - 26 July, Adelaide, South Australia.

Abstract

In the Carbon-In-Pulp process, Au(CN)2- is adsorbed onto nanoporous carbon (activated carbon) directly from the cyanide ore pulp, followed by the elution of adsorbed gold from activated carbon1. A comparative investigation for the adsorption of the gold-cyanide complex (Au(CN)2-) on nanoporous carbon and carbon spheres was conducted to assess their potential for the aforementioned hydrometallurgical application. The nanoporous carbon used was commercial-based, cylindrically-shaped (size > 1.4 mm), extruded activated carbon manufactured by steam activation process while micro-sized carbon spheres (diameters 0.5 to 1 μm) were hydrothermally synthesised using a glucose precursor2,3 in a pressurised digestion vessel. Kinetic-based adsorption (i.e. bottle roll kinetic testing) studies were performed with both adsorbents characterised by scanning electron microscopy integrated with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and surface analysis. Results indicated that adsorption using nanoporous carbon was kinetically more favorable than carbon spheres, which was most probably attributed to the high surface area of the former.

Item Type:	Conference Item
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Conference Website:	http://www.ausnano.net/_files/2013 ANN Early Caree...
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/16567

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