Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the various methodologies used in the recovery of gold from secondary sources. Gold recovery is interesting due to its vast industrial applications, high market prices and extensively used precious metal, the sanctuary value attributed to gold during international political and economical crises, and the limited resource of this metal may explain the recent increasing gold share value. The state of art in recovery of gold from spent sources by pyrometallurgy; hydrometallurgy; bio-hydrometallurgy techniques is highlighted in this paper. This article also provides an overview of past achievements and present scenario of recovery studies carried out on the use of some promising methods which could serve as an economical means for recovering gold. The present review also highlights the used varieties of leaching, cementing, reducing agents, peeling, coagulants, adsorbents, agglomeration solvents, ion exchange resins and bio-sorbents in real situations and hopes to provide insights into recovery of gold from spent sources. Evaluation of lucrative and environmentally friendly technologies to recover gold from primary and secondary spent sources was made in this study.
► This paper has reviewed the most promising techniques for recovery of gold from spent materials, is an important subject not only from the point of monetary and high demand but also from waste treatment management. ► Although considerable research has been undertaken at a laboratory scale, most, if not all, of the technologies have proven to have limitation that hinder their widespread adoption in the gold recovery from secondary sources. ► Evaluation of productive and environmentally friendly technologies to recover gold from primary and secondary spent sources was made in this study.