RECOVERY OF GOLD BY A CARBON-IN-PULP PROCESS

摘要

A process for adsorbing gold from a leach pulp by means of activated carbon is described in which the leach pulp (the leach solution together with the subdivided gold bearing ore) is diluted to a specific gravity of less than that of the activated carbon and is subsequently passed upwardly through a multistage liquid/solid contacting column. The contacting column is of the type having perforated plates or trays defining a series of vertically adjacent stages and the operation of the column has a cycle which includes a first part during which upward flow of diluted pulp fluidizes the activated carbon, a second part in which the carbon is allowed to settle on the trays and a third part during which a reverse flow of diluted pulp carries carbon downwardly through the column from one stage to another. In the third part of the cycle, loaded carbon is removed from the lowermost stage and treated to recover adsorbed gold therefrom.