Abstract
A method was investigated for the recovery of gold from solutions containing cyanide ion and for the decomposition of cyanide ion by electrolytic technique. It has become clear that the time required for the decomposition of cyanide ion was far greater than that required for the recovery of gold, and in order to accelerate the rate of the decomposition of cyanide ion, a method combining electrolysis with ultraviolet (UV) radiation was applied. This combined method proved to be much more effective in decomposing cyanide ion than electrolytic technique. Short wavelengths (184.9nm and 253.7nm) were much more effective than long ones (356∼579.1nm) in cyanide ion treatment by UV radiation. UV radiation was effective in decomposing free cyanide ion except for one coordinated to gold. Thus, it was necessary to liberate cyanide ion by electrolysis in order to treat solutions containing cyanide ion.
