Vat Leaching Applications

Advancing Gold Recovery Through Cleaner Chemistry
Vat leaching remains one of the most efficient and controllable hydrometallurgical processes for extracting gold from crushed or ground ore. It offers high recoveries through direct solution contact under managed pH, temperature, and oxidation conditions. Yet, despite its precision and scalability, vat leaching has historically relied on sodium cyanide — a chemical that brings significant handling, regulatory, and environmental burdens. Increasingly, these constraints are limiting vat leach operations worldwide, particularly in regions where cyanide transport, storage, or discharge is restricted.

RZOLV™ Optimized for Vat Leach Efficiency
RZOLV™ was engineered to perform exceptionally within the controlled environment of vat leaching systems. Operating under mildly acidic conditions (pH 1.5 – 2.5) and moderate redox potentials, RZOLV™ dissolves gold into a stable ionic complex without the formation of toxic gas or volatile by-products. The reagent’s formulation supports rapid oxidation kinetics and maintains consistent solution strength throughout the leach cycle—enabling faster turnaround times, cleaner pregnant solutions, and simplified downstream recovery using conventional carbon adsorption or ion exchange circuits.

Operational and Economic Advantages
In vat systems, where ore contact and agitation can be precisely managed, RZOLV™ delivers accelerated gold dissolution and high recovery efficiency within short residence times—often achieving comparable or superior results to cyanide. The reagent’s stability at ambient temperature minimizes heating or process control costs, while its compatibility with standard carbon and electrowinning recovery circuits allows seamless integration into existing plants. Through electrochemical regeneration, RZOLV™ can be repeatedly recycled, significantly reducing reagent consumption and overall operating expenses compared to cyanide-based systems.

Environmental, Health, and ESG Impact
Unlike cyanide, RZOLV™ contains no acutely toxic constituents and produces no hydrogen cyanide gas, enabling safer working conditions and reducing the need for specialized containment or detox systems. Its low aquatic toxicity and biodegradability help operations meet increasingly strict environmental standards while simplifying water management and effluent discharge. These benefits allow projects to obtain permits more readily, improve community acceptance, and demonstrate tangible ESG leadership in responsible gold production.