The pilot scale extraction of gold with a brine of sodium chloride and bromide at 30 °C, in an atmosphere of halogens at atmospheric pressure, leads to gold chloride with 95% gold recovery. The use of dilute hypohalites (1 - 3%) instead of free halogens, which is strong enough to oxidize hypobromite into bromine, simplifies the recycling of halogens by electrolysis. With the recycling of water and brine, the regeneration of hypohalites and with a barren solid that is inert and stable. The Nichromet Extraction technology is a green process where the protection of the environment does not preclude profitability.
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