Leaching of Refractory Gold Ores by Microwave Irradiation: Comparison with Conventional Leaching

The present paper attempts to assess the effects of microwave irradiation on the leachability of refractory gold ores. Characteristics of the crystal structure and microstructure of the ores were determined by x-ray structural analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after microwave irradiation. Compared to conventional processes, microwave leaching processes are highly energy-efficient, take less time, and do not harm the environment. The experimental results show that the amount of gold extracted increases with microwave leaching temperature. The results demonstrate that microwave irradiation techniques can be applied effectively and efficiently to the leaching of refractory gold ores.