Australian mineral processing equipment company Gekko Systems and Singapore’s Clean Earth Technologies (CET) have announced they are to work together in order to develop technologies that will make gold processing cyanide and acid-free.
The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to identify and pursue their complementary technologies combining CET’s more environmentally friendly technologies and reagents and Gekko’s Inline Leach Reactor (ILR) and associated modular mineral processing equipment.
The process for gold cyanidation, which is the most commonly used leaching process for gold extraction, is a hydrometallurgical technique used for extracting gold from low-grade ore by converting the gold to a water-soluble complex.
Headquartered in Ballarat, Victoria, Gekko first started out producing InLine Pressure Jigs for continuous gravity separation of minerals. However, the company has since expanded into other energy-efficient equipment and processing flowsheets. Sandy Gray, Gekko’s technical director and founder, has since launched a InLine Leach Reactor, G-Rex Resin Exchange and the Python Processing Plant.
Meanwhile, CET has developed a Clean Mining solution which focuses on eliminating the use of cyanide, mercury and other toxic practices in the gold recovery process. This solution aligns with Gekko’s innovative solutions and strategy.
Gekko’s CEO, Andrew Edmondston said the two companies were excited about working together. “Their new reagents in combination with Gekko’s world leading intensive leaching technologies (ILR) allows for mineral processing to become more environmentally friendly, while still achieving high recovery.”
