| Abstract Scope |
Cyanidation followed by carbon adsorption remains the dominant process for gold production from gold ore but is energy-intensive, non-selective, and generates cyanide-containing effluents. This study presents a novel integrated process in which gold is leached in cyanide solution, followed by cyanide recovery through acidification and volatilization, converting dissolved gold into gold–chloride complexes. These complexes are then simultaneously adsorbed and reduced to produce high-purity metallic gold. This innovative approach eliminates several conventional gold recovery steps, including high-temperature elution of gold from loaded carbon, solution purification, and electrowinning of gold, resulting in substantial energy savings and supporting Net Zero objectives. In addition, the recovery and recycling of cyanide significantly reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional gold processing. |