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Friday, 29th February 2008 (2288 views)

A new method of extracting gold from multi-component solutions has hit the headlines for its environmentally-friendly credentials.

Science News reports that a new method of extracting the precious metal from multi-component solutions has been honed by researchers from the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The technique avoids the use of cyanide - the toxic substance traditionally used for recovering gold from ores and other materials.

"Cyanide enters lakes and rivers, causing massive deaths of plants and animals. Therefore the new technology, developed in Krasnoyarsk, is environmentally-friendly," states the report.

An alternative to cyanide is thiocyanate, which is thought to be less toxic and safer for the environment.

The A to Z of Materials notes that the method does not differ substantially from traditional ways of extracting gold, but for its green component.

It notes that cyanide is almost 100 times more toxic than thiocyanate.

The Russian Academy of Sciences is headquartered in Moscow.

 

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