The thermal behavior of Na[Au(CN)2] and the gold(I) dicyanaurate complex adsorbed on the activated carbon surface

The thermal behavior of crystalline Na[Au(CN)2] and the gold(I) cyanide complex adsorbed from neutral aqueous solution of Na[Au(CN)2] by the WSC-207C GR charcoal pre-washed from inorganic impurities was studied. The adsorption was established to lead to a significant decrease in the thermal stability of dicyanoaurate(I) anion. Using electron microscopy it was established that at the heating the adsorbent with the adsorbed [Au(CN)2]-anions up to 300°C labile metallic gold nanoparticles were formed. Chemisorption nature of adsorption of the [Au(CN)2]-anion by the activated carbon was assumed, and the nature of sorption sites involved in the formation of the primary bonds of gold(I) with the surface of the sorbent was considered.