A novel method for the desorption of gold from activated charcoal is reported. Ion pair solvation of sodium dicyanoaurate (I) (Na+ ... Au(CN)(2)(-)) by tributylphosphate facilitates the charge neutralization necessary for the elution of the ionic Au(CN)(2)(-) by the non-polar supercritical carbon dioxide. The method is sensitive to pressure and temperature, and the static (no CO2 now) period is more significant than the dynamic (CO2 flow) period. The presence of water is necessary to effect extraction.