Online cyanide measurement gives operators real‑time visibility where it matters most—enabling tighter leach control, better recovery consistency, and more efficient reagent use.
Key Facts
- Online cyanide measurement provides continuous data, replacing delayed lab results with immediate process insight.
- Tighter cyanide control helps reduce over‑dosing while maintaining consistent gold recovery.
- Continuous monitoring supports faster response to ore variability, improving leach circuit stability and metallurgical performance.
How continuous cyanide monitoring is transforming leach circuit control, gold recovery, and reagent efficiency
Effective cyanide management is fundamental to achieving strong metallurgical performance in gold leach circuits. Yet despite its central role in gold dissolution kinetics, many operations still rely on manual sampling and delayed laboratory analysis to monitor free cyanide levels. The result is often reactive process control, higher reagent consumption, and unnecessary variability in recovery.Advances in online cyanide measurement technology are changing that reality. By providing continuous, real time visibility of free cyanide levels, online analysers such as Cynoprobe enable gold plants to move from periodic measurement to proactive, data driven control.
Molycop’s upcoming Cynoprobe users’ technical webinar brings together process experts and experienced service engineers to explore how online cyanide measurement can be practically applied to improve leach circuit stability and performance.
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Why cyanide measurement matters
In gold leaching, cyanide concentration directly influences dissolution rates, recovery, reagent consumption, and environmental compliance. However, cyanide demand can fluctuate rapidly in response to changes in ore mineralogy, grind size, oxygen availability, and upstream process conditions.“Cyanide isn’t just another reagent—it’s one of the primary drivers of leach kinetics,” said Adrian Paine, Manager – Gold Processing at Molycop.
When you’re only measuring it a few times per shift, you’re effectively operating blind for long periods. Online measurement changes that dynamic completely.
Continuous monitoring allows operators and metallurgists to detect deviations early, adjust dosing strategies in real time, and maintain tighter control over leach conditions.
From delayed data to real time control
Traditional jar tests and laboratory titrations provide accurate measurements, but the delay between sampling and result often limits their usefulness for operational decision making. Online analyzers overcome this by delivering frequent, automated measurements directly to the control room.“Real time cyanide data enables a fundamentally different way of operating,” explained Alex Zheng, Product Manager (Asia) at Molycop.
It allows plants to respond immediately to changing ore conditions, rather than reacting hours later once recovery or tails performance has already been impacted.
By integrating online cyanide data into plant control systems, operators can:
• Stabilise cyanide concentrations across leach tanks
• Reduce over dosing and reagent wastage
• Improve recovery consistency
• Support more informed metallurgical analysis
Practical lessons from operating sites
While the benefits of online cyanide measurement are well established, successful implementation depends on practical considerations such as analyzer placement, calibration discipline, maintenance routines, and data integration.This Cynoprobe users’ webinar draws on real operating experience to address those realities head on. The session combines a short technical overview with an interview style discussion featuring experienced Cynoprobe service engineers who work directly with operating gold plants.
“Technology only delivers value if it’s applied correctly,” said Paine.
Sharing lessons from sites that are already using online cyanide measurement helps others avoid common pitfalls and get the most from their investment.
Topics covered will include:
• Installation and commissioning considerations
• Calibration and maintenance best practices
• Common operational challenges and how to troubleshoot them
• Using cyanide trends to support metallurgical decision making
Supporting recovery and reagent efficiency
One of the most immediate impacts of continuous cyanide measurement is improved reagent efficiency. By maintaining cyanide levels within an optimal operating window, plants can avoid excessive dosing while still supporting effective gold dissolution.“In many plants, cyanide addition is intentionally conservative because of uncertainty,” said Zheng.
When you replace uncertainty with accurate, continuous data, teams can confidently optimise dosing instead of over compensating.
Beyond cost savings, tighter cyanide control also supports improved process stability, reduced variability in tails grades, and clearer insight into the root causes of recovery changes.
A forum for technical collaboration
The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A session, giving participants the opportunity to raise site specific questions and engage directly with Molycop specialists.“This is about practical knowledge sharing,” Paine added.
We want attendees to come away with ideas they can take straight back to their plant.
Register now to learn how real time cyanide measurement can support safer, more efficient, and more stable gold leaching operations.
