Amino acids key to new gold leaching process

Gold refineries may soon be able to quit using toxic cyanide to process ore.

???????????????????This chemical is dangerous to work with and without careful disposal, bad for the environment.

Instead, a scientists says they can try an organic chemical that is one of life’s “building blocks” – the amino acid glycine.

It is cheaper than cyanide and can be re-used.

Glycine can also be used to extract copper.

First published in Science Network WA [read this story]. Republished in The Kalgoorlie Miner on 1 November 2014.