An Overview of Reclaimed Wastewater Reuse in Gold Heap Leaching

The intensive use of groundwater by the gold mining industry is an important sustainability concern, especially in arid and semiarid regions where groundwater is a scarce resource. Alternatives, such as water reuse, treatment and recycling, have been implemented to overcome this issue. The potential use of reclaimed wastewater in gold heap leaching, without decreasing the process efficiency, has not yet been considered. Hence, this review focuses on the physicochemical, biological, and chemical features (organic matter, microbial loads, metal ions, and anions) of reclaimed wastewater that may limit its use in gold heap leaching.