The CIP process is a prime example of heterogeneous catalysis, where the reactants and the catalyst are in different phases. In this case, the slurry is in the liquid phase, while the activated carbon is in the solid phase. This separation allows for easy recovery of the catalyst and product, reducing the need for complex separation techniques. Additionally, CIP facilitates high selectivity and efficiency in gold recovery, making it a valuable method in hydrometallurgical applications.