Construction of MoS₂@Activated Alumina Beads as Catalysts for Rapid Gold Recovery from Au(S₂O₃)₂^3– Solution

Abstract

Gold recovery from thiosulfate leaching solution Au(S 2 O 3 ) 2 3− is regarded as a tough task because of the low efficiency and complex procedure in current technology, which hindered the industrial application of this eco-friendly technique. In this work, a MoS 2 @activated alumina bead composite (MoS 2 @ AA) was constructed through a simple hydrothermal anchoring method and served as a catalyst to recover gold from Au(S 2 O 3 ) 2 3− solution for the first time. The microstructure and chemical component of MoS 2 @AA were systematically analyzed. In addition, batch experiments were carried out to explore the recovery behavior of Au(S 2 O 3 ) 2 3− (concentration: 10 to 200 ppm). Ascribing to the extraordinary optical property of MoS 2 @AA, Au(S 2 O 3 ) 2 3− could be directly reduced to Au 0 by photogenerated electrons and then form a two-phase interface of gold/MoS