MetaFLO Technologies · Biopolymers

Biopolymer for gold recovery and cyanide reduction by MetaFLO Technologies

ExtracTech is a seaweed-derived biopolymer designed to improve efficiency in gold recovery processes by reducing interference caused by metals during cyanidation. ExtracTech helps improve gold recovery efficiency, reduce cyanide consumption, eliminate or significantly reduce lime usage, provide superior pH stability, and optimize process performance without generating toxic byproducts.

In plain terms

ExtracTech is a seaweed-derived reagent developed to improve gold recovery efficiency during cyanidation and precious metal extraction processes. The solution may deliver up to 20x lower alkalizing agent consumption and up to 35% reduction in cyanide consumption while providing superior pH stability, improved process control, and enhanced operational efficiency.

Up to 20x

Lower alkalizing agent consumption

Up to 35%

Reduction in cyanide consumption

10.5 - 11.5

Stabilizes pH within the ideal cyanidation range

What is ExtracTech?

ExtracTech is a seaweed-derived liquid solution with alkalizing and oxidizing functions, developed to optimize mineral extraction in precious metal leaching processes and compatible with industrial cyanidation tanks used in gold mining operations.

The solution helps improve gold recovery efficiency by reducing interference caused by metals during cyanidation while providing significant reduction in alkalizing agent dosage, with up to 20x lower consumption compared to conventional reagents depending on operating conditions. ExtracTech also helps improve leaching kinetics and may reduce cyanide consumption by up to 35%, contributing to superior pH stability, improved process control, greater operational predictability, and enhanced overall extraction performance.

What problems does ExtracTech solve?

Conventional gold cyanidation and precious metal extraction processes in mining operations often face operational challenges related to pH control, reagent consumption, metallurgical recovery efficiency, and process stability. Many operations rely heavily on lime or caustic soda during the pre-lime stage to maintain alkalinity and control cyanide performance, resulting in high reagent consumption, increased operational costs, scaling, and process variability.

In addition, fluctuations in pH within leaching tanks may negatively affect cyanidation efficiency, reduce gold dissolution performance, and increase cyanide demand. The presence of interfering metals such as arsenic (As), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) can further impact process efficiency by consuming reagents and interfering with precious metal recovery kinetics. These conditions may lead to excessive cyanide consumption, lower metallurgical recovery efficiency, unstable operating conditions, and increased generation of contaminants and process effluents requiring downstream management and treatment.

ExtracTech was developed to help address these challenges through a seaweed-derived alkalizing and oxidizing solution that supports superior pH stability, reduces alkalizing agent consumption by up to 20x depending on operating conditions, improves cyanidation performance, and enhances gold recovery efficiency while reducing operational variability and reagent demand in gold mining operations.

How does ExtracTech work?

ExtracTech acts during the pre-alkalization (pre-lime) stage as a seaweed-derived alkalizing and oxidizing biopolymer developed for gold cyanidation and precious metal extraction systems. The solution stabilizes pH within the ideal cyanidation range of approximately 10.5-11.5, helping maintain chemical stability inside leaching tanks while reducing operational fluctuations and minimizing the risk of HCN (hydrogen cyanide) gas formation associated with inadequate alkalinity control.

Its oxidizing action selectively reacts with interfering metals such as arsenic (As), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn), reducing metal interference during cyanidation and improving leaching selectivity and process efficiency. Depending on ore mineralogy and operating conditions, ExtracTech may reduce cyanide consumption by up to 35% while improving leaching kinetics and gold recovery performance without generating toxic byproducts.

Unlike conventional solid alkalizing reagents, ExtracTech is supplied as a water-soluble liquid product fully compatible with existing plant dosing systems. The solution can be directly integrated into industrial operations without requiring additional CAPEX, equipment modifications, or lime slurry preparation systems. Its low dosage requirements, typically measured in ppm, allow significant operational impact even at low application volumes. Depending on process conditions, ExtracTech may also eliminate or significantly reduce lime usage while improving process predictability, operational flexibility, metallurgical efficiency, and long-term extraction performance across different ore types. Specific dosage adjustments and process optimization parameters are determined through laboratory and metallurgical testing.

Before and After application of ExtracTech

How does ExtracTech compare?

Technical Criteria	Traditional Alkalinizers	ExtracTech Biopolymer
Main function	Adjust pH, neutralize acidity	Adjust pH + oxidize metals associated with gold
Main products	Lime (CaO / Ca(OH)2), NaOH	Seaweed-derived biopolymer
Effect on pH	Effective	Highly effective
pH control	Subject to fluctuations	Stable pH control
Operational stability	Low / medium	High
Preparation requirements	High (hydration, agitation)	Low-liquid direct dosing
Influence on leaching kinetics	Neutral	Enhances kinetics in most cases
Cyanide consumption	No direct impact	Potential reduction by up to 35%*
Carbon compatibility	Good	Good
Operational safety	Risk of dust, burns, some present corrosivity	Eliminates solid lime handling and dust exposure

* Depending on ore mineralogy, operating conditions, and process parameters.

How to apply DusTech

1. Pulp Preparation

Prepare the ore pulp under continuous agitation to promote proper homogenization before cyanidation.

2. ExtracTech Addition

Add ExtracTech during the pre-alkalization (pre-lime) stage until the pH reaches the ideal cyanidation range of approximately 10.5-11.5. The liquid formulation can be directly dosed into existing plant systems.

3. Cyanidation Addition

After pH stabilization, cyanide is added to continue the gold extraction process under continuous agitation. Depending on ore mineralogy and operating conditions, ExtracTech may reduce cyanide consumption by up to 35%.

4. Process Optimization

Final dosage and operating conditions are adjusted according to ore characteristics and metallurgical testing results.

Where ExtracTech is used

Gold and Silver Mining Industry (Precious Metals)

ExtracTech is designed for gold and silver cyanidation operations involving precious metal extraction, leaching optimization, pH stabilization, and reduction of cyanide and alkalizing reagent consumption in industrial recovery circuits.

Standards and Compliance

Laboratory and metallurgical testing prior to full-scale application is recommended to validate dosage, cyanide performance, pH stability, and metallurgical recovery efficiency according to ore mineralogy and plant operating conditions.

Relevant Industry References

Gold Cyanidation and Precious Metal Recovery: Applicable to industrial cyanidation circuits involving pH control, alkalization, leaching optimization, and precious metal recovery processes.

pH Control and Cyanide Stability: ExtracTech supports operation within the recommended cyanidation pH range of approximately 10.5-11.5, helping minimize operational instability and reducing the risk of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) formation associated with inadequate alkalinity control.

Environmental and Process Optimization: Applicable to operations seeking reduction of lime consumption, cyanide optimization, lower contaminant generation, and improved process efficiency in gold and silver recovery systems.

Industry Standards and References

International Cyanide Management Code (ICMC): Widely recognized best-practice framework for the safe production, transport, handling, and use of cyanide in gold mining operations.

ASTM E1915: Standard test methods related to analysis and monitoring of cyanide compounds in water and metallurgical process streams.

Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater: Reference methodologies for monitoring water quality, process chemistry, cyanide concentration, and environmental performance in industrial operations.

Metallurgical and Laboratory Validation: Process optimization, reagent dosage, and recovery performance should be confirmed through laboratory and pilot-scale metallurgical testing before industrial implementation.

Environmental profile

Seaweed-Derived Liquid Reagent

ExtracTech is a seaweed-derived liquid biopolymer developed to improve gold recovery efficiency while supporting more stable and optimized cyanidation operations. Depending on ore mineralogy and operating conditions, the solution may significantly reduce the consumption of alkalizing reagents and cyanide, contributing to lower chemical demand, improved process efficiency, and reduced operational variability in precious metal extraction circuits.

Its liquid formulation eliminates the need for lime slurry preparation and reduces issues commonly associated with conventional solid alkalizing reagents, including dust generation, scaling formation, reagent handling complexity, and operational instability.

By promoting selective oxidation of interfering metals such as As, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Mn, ExtracTech also supports improved leaching selectivity and metallurgical performance without generating toxic byproducts during application.

Technical note: ExtracTech performance may vary according to ore mineralogy, cyanide concentration, oxygen availability, pH conditions, agitation efficiency, and plant operating parameters. Laboratory and metallurgical testing are recommended prior to full-scale industrial implementation.

Common questions

What is ExtracTech used for?

How does ExtracTech improve gold recovery?

Can ExtracTech reduce cyanide consumption in the leaching process?

Does ExtracTech replace lime or caustic soda?

Can ExtracTech reduce alkalizing reagent consumption during gold leaching?

Can ExtracTech improve leaching process stability?

Does ExtracTech require specific changes in the gold mining plant?

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