Hydrochemically separation of gold from Copper Anode Slime by means of Thiourea solution

Although the conventional gold recovery process is cyanidation, due to the recent environmental laws, researchers are looking for alternative methods for the recovery of gold. Furthermore, the copper anode slime is one of the most important secondary sources of gold (about 1200 ppm). So, the main objective of the current work is gold separation from copper anode slime as a rich secondary source of gold by determining the mechanism of the reaction between thiourea (TU) and H2O2 in the thiourea leaching of gold. Thiourea can form cationic complex with gold in the gold extraction process from copper anode slime. Thiourea consumption levels were also examined during the leaching operations for different leaching parameters, i.e. solution volume, concentration ratio of thiourea/H2O2, pH, leaching time and agitation rate. Ammonia was added to the gold containing solution and, consequently, gold was precipitated in the metallic form. X-Ray pattern confirms the formation of metallic gold.