Activated Carbon for Gold Extraction in CIP, CIL, and Heap Leach Circuits

Where every performance attribute translates directly into recovery rate and operating cost.

Gold extraction is the economically most sensitive application for activated carbon. In CIP, CIL, and heap-leach circuits, adsorption kinetics dictate carbon inventory; mechanical strength dictates attrition losses; elution efficiency dictates cycle turnaround. A carbon that excels in the lab but pulverizes in pulp agitation causes gold loss with fines, screen blinding, and eluate contamination.

The Challenge & PureStar Approach

The Core Challenge: Optimizing the industry's "hard-to-elute" triangle.

High gold loading, low attrition loss, and fast elution are difficult to achieve simultaneously. Many carbons develop "hard-to-elute gold"—auro-cyanide complexes trapped in overly deep or narrow pores that resist standard stripping conditions, creating a hidden inventory loss. As ore grades decline globally, every gram of unrecovered gold directly erodes margin.