Recovery of Au(III) from Gold Mining Rock with Silica/Chitosan Coated on Iron Sand Magnetic Material

Abstract

In this study, adsorption as an environmental friendly technique has been applied for separation and recovery of gold (Au) from gold mining rock sample with iron sand magnetic material coated with silica/chitosan (MMSC). The works included preparation and characterization of adsorbent; gold leaching from the rock sample, and adsorption-desorption of Au(III) in leaching solution and calculation of recovery. The result showed that the leaching solution contained Au(III), Cu(II) and Zn(II) of 0.14, 16.0, and 181 mg/g, respectively. Adsorbent investigated was selective for Au(III) against Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions with the selectivity coefficient, αAu/Cu of 7.71±1.28 and αAu/Zn of 29.48±15.11. The adsorption-desorption of metal ions in the rock sample solution obtained the recovery of 77.49±0.96, 0.21±0.00, and 0.04±0.01 % for Au(III), Cu(II), and Zn(II), respectively.