In heap leaching, do we need to treat the activated carbon? If the customer’s condition...

In heap leaching, do we need to treat the activated carbon? If the customer’s conditions do not allow for processing the activated carbon, will it affect the leaching effect?

For heap leaching, simple washing of the activated carbon is sufficient for use, or adding a small amount of activating agent during the adsorption process is enough. It’s a simple process that doesn’t require special treatment, or you can simply provide the customer with high-quality water-washed carbon.

Activated Carbon Treatment in Heap Leaching and Its Impact

Activated Carbon Treatment in Heap Leaching

Generally, yes, activated carbon used in heap leaching needs to be treated.

The carbon becomes saturated with gold and other metals during the adsorption process. To recover the precious metals, the carbon undergoes a series of processes:

Desorption: Gold and other metals are stripped from the carbon using a strong cyanide solution under specific conditions (temperature, pressure).   

Electrowinning or Precipitation: The recovered gold is then extracted from the solution through electrowinning or precipitation.   

Carbon Regeneration: The carbon is cleaned to remove impurities and restore its adsorption capacity for reuse.

Impact of Not Treating Activated Carbon

If the customer's conditions prevent activated carbon processing, it will significantly affect the leaching effect.

Reduced Gold Recovery: Without treatment, the carbon's adsorption capacity becomes exhausted, leading to lower gold recovery rates.

Environmental Issues: The spent carbon containing valuable metals and potentially harmful substances poses a significant environmental risk.

Operational Challenges: The accumulation of spent carbon can disrupt the leaching process and increase operational costs.

Therefore, treating the activated carbon is crucial for maintaining efficient gold recovery, protecting the environment, and ensuring the long-term viability of the heap leaching operation.