Isolation and removal of cyanide from tailing dams in gold processing plant using natural bitumen

Gilsonite as a natural occurrence of bitumen and due to the presence of carbon in its structure is a suitable adsorbent for a wide variety of pollutants. In this research, the adsorption of cyanide from the wastewater of gold processing plants using gilsonite were investigated. In this way, the effect of particle size of gilsonite, the weight and mixing time with solution, on the amount of cyanide adsorption have been studied. In addition, in one experiment, the effect of processed gilsonite on its adsorption ability was investigated. Based on the obtained results, the maximum adsorption of 61.64% was obtained in the size range of -1+0.5 and -2+1 mm of gilsonite. With increasing adsorbent weight and mixing time, the cyanide adsorption rate were increased. On the other hand, with the processing of the gilsonite sample, the amounts of adsorption were increased considerably. This study indicated that gilsonite can be used as an isolation and absorbent in the structure and floor of the tailing dumps of mineral processing plants.