The gold room workhorse: elution and electrowinning
In any carbon-based gold plant, the elution and electrowinning system is where dissolved gold finally leaves the carbon and becomes a product. After activated carbon adsorbs gold in the CIP or CIL circuit, this system desorbs that gold back into solution and plates it out, then returns the stripped carbon for regeneration and reuse. It is the smallest part of the plant by tonnage but the part that produces the revenue, so reliability here matters disproportionately.
How desorption and electrowinning work
Loaded carbon is transferred into a pressure elution column and treated with a hot caustic-cyanide solution, typically at 130 to 150 degrees Celsius under pressure, which reverses adsorption and concentrates the gold into a small volume of pregnant eluate. That eluate is circulated through electrowinning cells where a rectifier drives the gold onto steel-wool cathodes. The cathode sludge is then dried and smelted into dor bar, and the stripped carbon is reactivated and recycled.
Pressure desorption versus atmospheric
- High-temperature pressure desorption is faster, strips carbon more completely in a single shorter cycle, and is the standard for medium and large plants.
- Atmospheric (Zadra) elution is simpler and cheaper to build but slower, so it is often chosen for smaller operations.
A complete Xinhai system integrates the elution column, the heating and heat-recovery loop, electrowinning cells, the rectifier, eluate pumps and the carbon regeneration kiln. Sizing follows your daily loaded-carbon tonnage, which in turn comes from head grade and adsorption-circuit design, so we work the numbers back from your gold output. Efficient heat recovery and a tight strip cycle keep reagent and energy cost per ounce down, and a complete strip protects downstream recovery by keeping residual gold on the carbon low.
Engineered to match your circuit
This system has to balance with the adsorption tanks ahead of it and the carbon regeneration behind it, so we size it as part of the whole gold room rather than in isolation. Under our EPC+M+O model, Xinhai supplies it standalone or as part of a turnkey plant, with installation and operator training. See related gold extraction equipment or read how to cut reagent and energy cost in cyanidation. Contact us with your carbon throughput for sizing.
Technical Specifications
| Function | Carbon desorption (elution) + electrowinning |
|---|---|
| Carbon batch | 1u201310 t per cycle (configurable) |
| Desorption type | High-temperature pressure (130u2013150 u00b0C) |
| Eluant | Caustic-cyanide solution |
| Gold recovery | Steel-wool cathode electrowinning |
| Integrated units | Elution column, heater, EW cells, rectifier, regen kiln |
| Heat recovery | Yes, to lower energy per cycle |
| Delivery model | Standalone or turnkey EPC+M+O |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between pressure and atmospheric elution?
High-temperature pressure desorption runs hotter and under pressure, stripping carbon faster and more completely in one shorter cycle, which suits medium and large plants. Atmospheric (Zadra) elution is simpler and cheaper to build but slower, so it is usually chosen for smaller operations. We recommend the type that fits your tonnage and energy cost goals.
What carbon throughput can the system handle?
We size the system to your daily loaded-carbon tonnage, configurable from roughly 1 to 10 tons per cycle and beyond. That figure follows directly from your head grade and adsorption-circuit design, so we match the elution column, heater and electrowinning cells to the carbon coming off your CIP or CIL tanks.
Is carbon regeneration included?
Yes, a complete gold room system pairs elution and electrowinning with a carbon regeneration kiln that reactivates stripped carbon so it can return to the adsorption circuit. Reusing carbon is essential to operating economics, so we integrate and size the kiln alongside the elution and electrowinning stages.
Can I buy this without a full plant?
Yes. Xinhai supplies the elution and electrowinning system as a standalone unit to upgrade or debottleneck an existing gold room, or as part of a turnkey CIP/CIL plant. Either way we provide sizing, installation support and operator training. Send your carbon throughput and we will scope a unit.
