Lithium Universe (ASX:LU7) has recovered more than 99% of dissolved gold during laboratory testing of its licensed gold copper diamide extraction (GCDE) technology.
The University of Edinburgh-developed process also produced metallic gold with 97.04% purity after the recovered material underwent conventional reduction using sodium metabisulphite.
Testing assessed GCDE’s ability to extract gold selectively from complex chloride solutions containing multiple base and precious metals. Between two and six parts per million of dissolved gold remained in solution after precipitation.
Under lower-acidity test conditions, the process recovered more than 99% of the gold while aluminium, copper, nickel, zinc, palladium, iron, tin, and platinum largely remained in solution.
Increasing the hydrochloric acid concentration enabled the recovery of iron, tin, and platinum while gold recovery remained above 99%. Lithium Universe says this ability to control selectivity could allow valuable metals to be recovered sequentially from complex ores, concentrates, or recycled material.
Separate testing recovered 98% of the gold from dissolved electronic waste.
GCDE uses a reusable diamide reagent to bind dissolved gold under acidic conditions, forming a solid precipitate that can be separated from the solution. Washing releases the gold and regenerates the reagent for reuse, without requiring organic solvents.
CEO Iggy Tan says the results support the technology’s potential across mining and electronic waste applications.
“Achieving over 99% gold recovery and producing metallic gold at 97% purity demonstrates the effectiveness of our selective extraction process,” Tan says.
“Combined with reagent recyclability and the elimination of organic solvents, GCDE has the potential to provide a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative for recovering gold from both mining and electronic waste.”
Lithium Universe plans to advance GCDE towards pilot-scale testing and commercialisation. The company says its primary focus remains the Bécancour Lithium Refinery Project in Québec, Canada, which is designed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Lithium Universe
