By: Ndlovu Nqobile
As we all know, mining is an existential part of the precious metals industry and extraction of gold from the ore is complex and critical. Over the years the process has been perfected and in the gold industry today, the use of activated carbon to separate gold from cyanide leaching solutions has become an industry standard for efficient gold recovery in Carbon-in-Leach (CIL), Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP) and Carbon-in-Column (CIC) operations. With its ultra-porous structure, activated carbon is a powerful adsorbent used throughout several industries to separate material components through adsorption. This article is about help you to choose the right activated carbon for the process.Â
For gold recovery circuits, it is essential that the activated carbon employed provides excellent process performance, minimal attrition loss and minimal maintenance problems. Gold recovery rates, material losses, plant performance issues and disruption in supplies are critical factors. Maximizing efficiency has made high quality activated carbons one of the most valuable products in gold mining today. Now, more than ever, selecting a carbon manufacturer with high quality activated carbon is vital to the bottom line of the entire operation. Coconut shell activated carbons are the most selected type of activated carbon for gold recovery. This type of carbon boasts numerous characteristics that make it ideal for the application, including superior hardness and pore structure.
IndoCarb GC – Gold Recovery grade
In a crowded industry, a major differentiating factor in favor of IndoCarb is its philosophy towards embracing sophisticated technologies at every step of product development and manufacturing. Black Opal Group, the parent company was established by some of the highly experienced entrepreneurs in activated carbon industry with combined experience of over 100 years in the field. Over the past decade, the group has succeeded in building IndoCarb GC as one of the most recognized gold-grade activated carbon brand in the industry, with a reputation based on quality, innovation, service and reliability. BO group’s production lines are fully under the aegis of their advanced laboratory facilities and R&D.
IndoCarb GC activated carbon products have the following advantages –
- Â High hardness levels and abrasion resistance
- Higher adsorption capacity and surface area
- High retentivity and large fraction of micropores
- Low ash content and fewer impurities
Selecting the best coconut feedstock is key to the manufacture of high-quality activated carbon for use in gold circuits. The shells should have a thicker profile and durability that better withstands the manufacturing process and, later in the gold-circuits. IndoCarb GC grade of carbon are manufactured in their factories strategically located in Southeast Asia where coconut shells are grown in plenty. This allows them to source the highest quality, and most durable coconut shells so that the factories can provide a consistent supply of the final product along with assuring the quality.
Factors differentiating IndoCarb GC from others in the industry –
Coconut Shell Based: Highest hardness, hence more abrasion resistant than any other type of carbon available due to structural stability inherited from the shells. IndoCarb GC is hence more resistant to abrasion and can withstand the harsh conditions of the gold beneficiation process while producing less waste and acting as a more renewable resource than activated carbon produced from coal.
Excellent adsorption capabilities: IndoCarb GC has large adsorption capacity and strong gold absorption ability allowing a short contact time and faster processing rate. IndoCarb GC can effectively extract higher amounts of gold during the typical cyanide leaching process and ensures the same level of performance every time it is used, which impacts positively on a company’s revenue.
Easy Regeneration: The critical assessment of an activated carbon is how well it maintains its properties after months of use in gold circuits with minimum gold loss and its performance after reactivation. IndoCarb GC offers extremely low rate of adsorption deterioration during regeneration cycles. Hence these carbons can be regenerated several times while retaining the same adsorption capacity offering substantial cost savings and restores the carbon to 95% or greater of its original adsorption capacity. In addition to adsorptive capacity, the recycling of spent carbon eliminates the need for incineration or landfill disposal.
Quality control: Tailor made in own ISO 9001/14001/45001 certified factory under guidance of their R&D team and industry acclaimed quality assurance team.
Particle Size: Tight particle size distribution resulting in very carbon fines, therefore eliminating gold losses due to undersized carbon particles escaping from the circuit. IndoCarb GC products are de-dusted twice in the production line which results in nil dust and impurities.
IndoCarb GC products are offered in various mesh sizes and adsorption levels as per industry requirements, and their E612, D816 & C616 are some of the standard products being offered across the mining industry worldwide.
IndoCarb BO group’s technical experts can help provide the most economical and efficient product for your application. They can be reached at info@blackopalcarbons.com or +1 (412) 928-4970. For more information visit: www.blackopalcarbons.com
Author:Â Madhavan Santhosh.Sr Vice President (S&M – Black Opal Group)
