Gold Refining

Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) is a highly toxic compound that is a byproduct of many industrial processes. Existing HCN point sensors are maintenance intensive, slow to respond and provide limited coverage. Many HCN sensors do not work reliably in hot or cold weather, or in humid environments. Our technology can be used for fixed monitoring applications or for temporary protection of workers during construction projects.

Using the multiple path capability of the Multi-Channel System, it is now possible to provide complete unit or facility perimeter coverage at relatively low cost. Linear array early warning detection systems, covering several kilometers with no breaks in coverage, can be established between large producing fields and nearby population centers.

Boreal’s analyzers have been monitoring fence lines and processing units around the world for years. Many with upwards of 75,000 hours of continuous trouble-free operation.

Open path monitoring detects HCN from heaps, ponds, stacks, vents, or mill buildings quickly. Path lengths can be up to 750m or even longer.

Boreal’s TDL technology has several benefits for leak detection in Gold Refineries:

  • Provides continuous and instantaneous response times and data collection.
  • Very reliably delivers accurate readings.
  • No interference with other gases and No False Alarms: “It finds exactly what you’re looking for.”
  • Not affected by heat or humidity.
  • Minimal Maintenance: checks internal reference cell every minute, robust design, and requires no consumables to operate.
  • Low (overall or amortized) cost of ownership (because they can last +20 years) and low operation and maintenance costs.
  • Our technology is as close to set, collect, and forget as possible.

Gold Refining Gas Detection Applications:

  • Leach Gallery Tanks

    The high concentration of the poisonous HCN gas in and  around the leach tanks an immediate threat to human health and safety. All precautions should be taken to protect those required to work in this process area. Boreal has a number of tailor made solutions for monitoring a variety of gases that come off of the leach tanks.

  • Carbon in Pulp (CIP) Tanks

    The liberation of gold in a cyanide solution produces harmful and dangerous gaseous HCN fumes that need to be measure as to protect operational personnel. Traditional gas detection methodologies have difficulties  with this challenging and harsh gas. Boreal has proven solution for measuring hydrogen cyanide in CIP tanks.

  • Carbon in Pulp (CIP) Tailings Box Cyanide Mix

    The colorless and extremely poisonous HCN gas that is present in the tailings box provides an opportunity to expose workers to dangerous levels of the prussic acid. Great care must be taken to ensure that you have the best gas detection system possible to protect your operational personnel.  Boreal’s open-path gas detection technology provides a monitoring solution that can not only survive but thrive in the harsh gaseous HCN environment.

  • Monitoring above Trash and Safety Screens

    Monitoring above trash and safety screens is difficult to impossible for other gas detection methodologies but Boreal’s technology is tailor made for this application.  Our open-path gas detectors detect HCN and NH3 where no one else can. The high concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen cyanide that are typically present are  dangerous and hazardous to operational personnel and if gone unchecked could create an explosive environment.

  • Cyanide Mix Area

    The high concentration of hydrogen cyanide in the mix area is a cause for concern and actions should be taken to monitor elevated levels of the poisonous gas to protect operational personnel and prevent the area from entering the explosive envelop.

  • Cyanide Pumps

    No matter what style of pump is used there will always be a risk of having the pressurized process leaking through seals or other connections. In known that pumps create a elevated risk of leaking it is highly recommended to monitor the pump(s) area to prevent positioning operational personnel or creating an explosive environment. Boreal has a number of different configuration options for measuring HCN around cyanide pumps.

  • Cyanide Destruction Elution Column

    HCN present in and around the cyanide destruction elution column is a safety concern all of those in the process area. The monitoring for HCN is also prudent for measuring if the concentration is with the explosive limits. Boreal has a number technical solutions developed for the cyanide destruction elution column.

  • Sag & Ball Mills

    Measuring HCN and NH2 fugitive emissions on the face of the sag and ball mills is easily done with a variety of different configurations provided by Boreal.

  • Electrowinning

    During the electroextraction process elevated levels of HCN and NH3 are present. Boreal has proven technological solutions to actively monitor HCN and NH3 emissions over an open-path which allows area in which were never able to be measured before to now be monitored.

  • H2S Detection in High Sulphur Ore

    In some cases, the ore used in the gold refining process will be rich in Sulphur will present a H2S hazard to operational personnel and could create an explosive environment. Boreal has open-path measurement solutions that can actively monitor large areas with one analyzer to ensure your employees are not being exposed to levels of H2S over the allowable limit.

  • Scale Cleaning

    In the scale cleaning process HCL is used as a cleaning agent. Due to the nature of HCl it is prudent to monitor the active levels of the gas to ensure that operational personnel are not exposed to levels about the allowable working limit. Boreal has HCl monitoring solutions tailor made for this very application.