Activated Carbon for Gold Recovery (CIP / CIL)
Coconut shell granular activated carbon engineered for gold CIP/CIL circuits — 6×12 mesh, >98% hardness, iodine 1000–1300 mg/g, with a COA issued for every batch. Factory-direct from our own plant in Longyan, China.
Reply within 24 h · 500 g lab sample or 25 kg bag at cost price · COA of the exact lot
Specifications — gold CIP/CIL grade coconut shell GAC
Why Apparent Density (0.45–0.52 g/cm³) Matters in CIL/CIP Circuits
In gold recovery, apparent density (ASTM D2854) is more than a packaging figure. It sets how much carbon a tank actually holds, whether the bed stays suspended in the pulp, and — over a full campaign — the cost per ounce recovered.
1. Carbon inventory and tank loading accuracy
Apparent density fixes the mass of carbon that a given tank volume holds. In a tank charged with 10 m³ of carbon, the difference between 0.45 g/cm³ and 0.52 g/cm³ is roughly 4,500 kg versus 5,200 kg — about 700 kg, or 15%, on the same fill. Specifying a defined density band keeps initial charging and routine top-up quantities predictable, and makes quotations from different suppliers directly comparable.
2. Hydraulic fluidisation in agitated tanks
Gold-recovery carbon has to stay uniformly suspended in a dense slurry — CIP/CIL pulps typically run 45–50% solids (w/w):
- Too light (below ~0.45 g/cm³): granules ride on top of the slurry, so contact with the cyanide solution is uneven and the upper interstage screens blind faster.
- Too heavy (well above this band — normally coal-based and other high-density feedstocks): granules settle ahead of the pulp, which can leave under-agitated zones at the tank bottom and raise agitator power draw.
- 0.45–0.52 g/cm³ (our gold grade): the band we target for air-agitated and mechanically stirred CIL/CIP tanks, so the bed stays in suspension through the designed contact time.
3. Pore structure versus attrition resistance
Apparent density is an indirect read on activation: more burn-off means more internal pore volume and a lighter granule. Our gold grade holds iodine 1000–1300 mg/g (ASTM D4607) with hardness ≥98% (ball-pan) and abrasion retention ≥98.2% (ASTM D3802, 30 min agitation) — pore development for gold loading, with the particle strength to survive screening, transfer and elution.
Apparent density is a specification band, not one fixed number. Every batch is tested in our own QC laboratory, and the tested value appears on the COA issued with that lot.
Tell us your tank volume and target density and we will confirm the charge weight per tank — request a quote or see a sample COA.
Why coconut shell carbon wins in a gold circuit
- Faster gold loading kinetics — fine micropore structure loads dissolved gold quickly from cyanide leach slurry.
- Lower attrition loss — hardness ≥98% means less carbon (and the gold it carries) lost as fines through screening, elution and regeneration.
- Longer service life — typically 10–30 thermal regeneration cycles before staged replacement.
- Predictable budgeting — a COA for every batch, so make-up carbon planning is based on measured numbers, not brochure claims.
Not sure which grade fits your circuit? See the full CIP/CIL grade page for mesh selection, dosage and regeneration guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Which activated carbon is best for gold recovery in CIP/CIL?
Hard coconut shell granular activated carbon in 6×12 mesh (1.7–3.4 mm) with iodine 1000–1300 mg/g and hardness ≥98%. It loads gold faster and survives more regeneration cycles than coal-based grades, which lowers cost per ounce recovered.
Do you provide a batch COA and a free sample?
Yes — a 500 g laboratory sample or one 25 kg export bag at cost price, supplied with the COA of that exact lot. The sample value is credited against your first container order.
What is the minimum order quantity?
One 25 kg bag for evaluation. For production, a 20 ft container (≈16–18 t in 25 kg bags) is the most economical starting point; consolidated loading is available for smaller volumes.
How do you test hardness and abrasion resistance?
Hardness is measured by the ball-pan method (≥98%). Abrasion resistance follows ASTM D3802 — our typical retention is ≥98.2% after 30 minutes of agitation. Both are stated on the batch COA.
How fast does the carbon load gold?
In a standard ~1000 ppm Au cyanide solution, representative batches reach 52–58% of equilibrium loading within 2 hours. Actual kinetics depend on your liquor chemistry, carbon concentration and contact time.
Lead time, payment and shipping?
Production 7–15 days after deposit confirmation; payment by T/T (30% deposit, 70% against documents) or L/C at sight. Regular sea freight to Tema, Abidjan, Dakar, Mombasa, Port Sudan and Lagos; air freight for urgent trial lots.
Do you publish an R-value and K-value for your gold recovery carbon?
Yes — YELI Carbon publishes both for gold-grade GAC: K-value (gold loading capacity) 8–12 kg Au/t (≈ 8–12 mg Au/g) in high-grade circuits, and R-value (2-hour adsorption rate) 52–58% of equilibrium loading within 2 h in a standard ~1000 ppm Au cyanide solution. Both are measured in our own QC laboratory in accordance with GB/T 32992—2016, and the result is reported on the batch COA. Actual in-plant kinetics also depend on your liquor chemistry, gold concentration, carbon concentration and contact time.
Go deeper — gold recovery carbon guides
Get your batch COA and a sample today
Send us your circuit type (CIP/CIL), target mesh size and monthly tonnage — we reply within 24 hours with price, specification and logistics options.
Get Batch COA & Free Sample → Email the technical teamYELI Carbon (Xiamen Yeli New Materials Co., Ltd) — www.yelicarbon.com