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NOBLE METALS AND ALLOYS
ArticleName Autoclave oxidation processing of refractory gold-containing sulphide concentrates at moderate temperatures
ArticleAuthor Bitkov G. A., Lapin A. Yu., Shneerson Ya. M.
ArticleAuthorData

“Science-Research Center “Gidrometallurgiya” LLC, Saint Petersburg, Russia:

G. A. Bitkov, Researcher, e-mail: gbitkov@gidrometall.ru
A. Yu. Lapin, Technical Officer
Ya. M. Shneerson, Chief Executive Officer

Abstract

This article gives the results of development of technology of two-stage low-temperature autoclave oxidation of refractory gold-containing sulphide ores. Flotation concentrates of several Russian Far Eastern deposits became the objects of this research. The first stage of research demonstrated the effect of source material size, temperature and oxygen partial pressure on the process performance indicators. Low temperature leaching has the following optimal conditions: temperature is 130 оC; oxygen partial pressure is 1.0 MPa and leaching time is 1.5–2 hours. Grinding of concentrates before leaching to 80% of 10–15 μm of the grain size fraction is necessary to be carried out together with acid processing for carbonates' destruction. Autoclave and non-autoclave options of dissolving of elemental sulphur were tested. Concentration of unsaturated sulphur species during non-autoclave dissolving is too high. Decreasing of gold extraction values is the result of gold and saturated sulphur species contact. According to this, necessity of unsaturated sulphur species pressure oxidation is proved. The following optimal parameters of the process were defined during the research of autoclave oxidation of unsaturated sulphur species: lime consumption is 150% of stoichiometric ratio; temperature is 130 оC and oxidation time is 1.5–2 hours. The dissolution kinetics of elemental sulphur and autoclave oxidation kinetics of unsaturated sulphur species were determined. There are presented the results of recirculation of solutions with unsaturated sulphur species to the studies of different stages. Recirculation of solutions with unsaturated sulphur species to the first stage reduces the extraction of gold in the subsequent cyanidation. Recirculation of solutions with unsaturated sulphur species to the second stage does not reduce the extraction of gold. In some cases, the duration of second stage can be reduced by 1.5 to 2 times by recycling solutions with unsaturated sulphur species.

keywords Gold-containing sulphides, ultrafine grinding, autoclave, oxidation, elemental sulphur, extraction of gold
References

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