The absorption of gold cyanide onto activated carbon. II. Application of the kinetic model to multistage absorption circuits

A relatively simple rate equation for the kinetics of the absorption of gold from cyanide solutions onto activated carbon was used as the basis in the development of a model for multistage carbon-in-pulp and carbon-in-leach absorption circuits. The model was used in the prediction of both the steady-state and the transient behaviour of the absorption process, and the results were found to be in reasonable agreement with those observed in an extended pilot-plant campaign. A number of practical implications of the model are discussed, and an assessment is made of the economic consequences of the various process options available for the design of a carbon-in-pulp plant.