YPT CIP Tanks

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Gold Recovery Redefined with Efficient Adsorption Technology

YPT CIP (Carbon in Pulp ) Tanks

In the gold-extraction method known as Carbon in Pulp process (CIP), ore is first leached (gold dissolved into solution) in one set of tanks, and then the resulting gold-bearing solution plus slurry is transferred into a series of adsorption tanks (the “CIP Tanks”) where activated carbon is introduced to adsorb the dissolved gold.
In these adsorption tanks the carbon moves in counter-current fashion to the pulp/slurry flow, capturing gold before the pulp is discharged to tailings.
Thus a “CIP Tank” refers to one of the vessels in the adsorption train in a CIP circuit.

Areas of Application

  • Oxide and free-milling gold ore processing plants employing the CIP method.
  • Plants where leaching and adsorption are better separated (rather than combined as in CIL) to permit better control of each stage.
  • Industrial gold recovery applications where high gold fines liberation and relatively simple chemistry allow use of CIP rather than more complex options.

Principle of Operation

  • The pulp (ground ore plus water plus cyanide solution) after leaching flows into the first adsorption tank. In these tanks, activated carbon is added (often in the last or near-last tank) and then moves counter-current (against the pulp flow) to capture dissolved gold.
  • The pulp flows from tank 1 → tank 2 → … → tank n; the carbon is fed into the final tank and moves from tank n → tank n-1 → … → tank 1, thus the richest (“gold-loaded”) carbon leaves the first tank.
  • Each tank is agitated or mechanically mixed (or gas–agitated) to maintain solids in suspension, ensure good contact of carbon and solution, and avoid dead zones.
  • Screens (carbon-retention screens) or weirs are typically employed on each tank outlet to retain the carbon in the tank and avoid loss of carbon to tailings.
  • After adsorption, the loaded carbon is stripped and gold recovered (via elution, electrowinning, etc.), and the pulp passes onward (to thickening/tailings).

Optimized Carbon Retention for Maximum Yield

YPT CIP (Carbon in Pulp ) Tanks

Reliable Carbon-in-Leach & Carbon-in-Pulp Systems for Precious Metals

Design Criteria

Key design parameters for CIP Tanks include:

Tank Count:

A typical CIP circuit uses several adsorption tanks (e.g., 4–6 or more) to allow sufficient residence time and carbon contact while avoiding pulp short-circuiting.

Pulp Density:

The pulp entering adsorption tanks should have appropriate solids concentration (often ~40–50 % solids in some cases) to allow carbon contact yet avoid over-thickening.

Carbon Concentration:

Activated carbon addition rate, carbon size (mesh), and residence time must be sized to achieve target gold recovery and minimal carbon loss.

Agitation/Mixing:

Tanks must ensure uniform suspension of carbon and pulp to facilitate adsorption kinetics. Poor mixing reduces gold uptake.

Hydraulics and Carbon Retention:

Proper design of launders/weirs/screens to prevent carbon loss and maintain counter-current flow of carbon and pulp.

Instrumentation & Control:

Monitoring of carbon loading, solution gold concentration, pH, cyanide concentration, and flow rates is critical in CIP systems.

Technical Specifications

The following are guideline values applicable to CIP adsorption tanks; actual values depend on plant size, ore, and test-work;

Number of adsorption tanks

~4-6 (or more)To allow carbon contact and avoid short-circuiting

Carbon concentration in pulp

~20-30 g carbon per litre (example)From industry practice

Gold in solution at tank outlet:

~0.01-0.03 g/m³Example from adsorption step

Slurry solids concentration

~40-50 % (indicative)Dependent on site design

Tank volume:

Tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands m³Depending on ore throughput

Residence time in adsorption tanks:

Tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands m³Depending on ore throughput

Important Considerations:

  • Carbon particle size and attrition: fine carbon lost to tailings reduces recovery and increases operating cost.
  • Carbon inventory management: the carbon mass balance is as important as slurry flow balance.
  • Carbon screen slot size and retention efficiency: losses here degrade performance.
  • Adsorption kinetics vs dissolution kinetics: if carbon adsorption lags gold dissolution, recovery suffers.
  • Carbon mixing and agitation: uneven contact lengths can cause under-utilised carbon or poor gold capture.