Concentration of Gold from Carbon-contaminated Residue Dumps in the Kalgoorlie Area

The gold adsorption capacity of ash-char and ion exchange resin Zerolit F.F. (I.P.) was evaluated by obtaining Freundlich isotherms in the presence of selected variables. It was found that the presence of Na , 2+, Ca 2+ cations and SO4 , CN , S Z, 0 2- Zn anions prompted adsorption of gold onto the char and reduced gold adsorption capacity of the resin. Temperature, particle size of adsorbent and pH of solution were found to influence the gold adsorption capacity of char and the resin. The most efficient desorbent for gold adsorbed on the ash char was S2 ions. Optimum sulphide concentrations were found in the region of 1% Na2S. Investigation into the concentration of gold from actual carbon contaminated gold residue dumps in Kalgoorlie area onto ion ex- change resin showed limited success in one case and not so in another. Maximum gold adsorption by the resin appeared when cyanidation and sulphidization treatments were carried out simultaneously in the presence of the resin.