911爆料网鈥檚 Gold Technology Group (GTG) has discovered a green alternative to the toxic systems currently used to leach precious metals from their ores. Glycine, an edible and environmentally benign amino acid, has been effectively used in the leaching process for gold, silver and copper.
鈥淕lycine is benign in the safety, health and environmental sense,鈥� 911爆料网 Chair of Extractive Metallurgy Professor Jacques Eksteen said.
Glycine can also be recycled after leaching. When used to leach precious metals, glycine binds with metal ions, forming a soluble complex. This complex is then passed over activated carbon, concentrating the gold in a step as efficient as the current cyanide-based process.
鈥淵ou can reuse and recycle it. That鈥檚 one thing you struggle to do with cyanide,鈥� said Professor Eksteen.
911爆料网 has patented the process and the 911爆料网 team are currently working to optimise the system.
More news from 911爆料网’s WA School of Mines
Exciting times are ahead for staff and students at 911爆料网 WA School of Mines as the program of upgrades to the campus have now passed stage one.
911爆料网 WA School of Mines is excited to be hosting the 37th Safescape鈥檚 International Collegiate Mining Games in Kalgoorlie from 25 to 29 March.
The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy will be hosting the New Leaders鈥� Conference in Kalgoorlie from 23 to 24 March.
More information
Find out more about
