THIOSULPHATE LEACHING: RECOVERY OF GOLD FROM PREGNANT LEACH SOLUTIONS AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS – PART II

Öz

Thiosulphate leaching offers several advantages over cyanidation such as low toxicity, high selectivity and fast leaching kinetics as well as it provides high extraction performance for gold in certain refractory ores. However, the main obstacles for commercialisation of thiosulphate
leaching are its complex leach chemistry and lack of a highly efficient and reliable method for solution purification and metal recovery stage. In this study, a state-of-the art review of proposed methods for recovery of gold from pregnant thiosulphate solutions and their advantages/
disadvantages is presented. Flowsheets of the pilot scale plants with conditions for practical application are presented in which the methods of precipitation with sulphide salts and cementation are employed for gold recovery from leach solutions. In addition, the features and flowsheet of the first and unique commercial/industrial application of thiosulphate leaching process (resin in leach (ion exchange) + electro-winning) developed by Barrick Gold Co. and commissioned in 2015, are given. One of the main technical challenges encountered in the process is at the stage of resin elution. Development of more efficient and economic techniques for solution purification/metal recovery is of practical importance for widespread industrial utilisation of thiosulphate leaching.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Thiosulphate,Pregnant leach solution,Gold/silver,Solution purification and metal recovery

TİYOSÜLFAT LİÇİ: YÜKLÜ LİÇ ÇÖZELTİLERİNDEN ALTIN KAZANIMI VE ENDÜSTRİYEL UYGULAMALAR – BÖLÜM II

Öz

Düşük çevresel etki, yüksek seçimlilik ve hızlı liç kinetiği gibi avantajlara sahip olmasının anı sıra tiyosülfat liçi; belirli refrakter cevherlerden altın kazanımında da yüksek performans östermektedir. Ancak, tiyosülfat liçinin ticarileşememesinin önündeki önemli engellerin başında karmaşık liç kimyası ve çözelti saflaştırma/metal kazanımı aşamasında yüksek etkinlikte uygun ir yöntem geliştirilememiş olması gelmektedir. Bu çalışmada, yüklü tiyosülfat çözeltilerinden altın kazanımı için önerilen mevcut yöntemler ve bu yöntemlerin avantaj/dezavantajları irdelenmiştir. Sülfür tuzlarıyla çöktürme ve sementasyon yöntemlerinin uygulandığı pilot ölçekli tesislerin akım şemaları uygulama koşulları ile beraber sunulmuştur. Tiyosülfat liçinin (liç içinde reçine (iyon değişimi) + elektro-kazanım) ticari/endüstriyel ilk ve tek uygulaması olan ve 2015 yılında Barrick Gold şirketi tarafından refrakter bir altın cevheri için geliştirilen prosesin özellikleri akım şeması ile birlikte açıklanmıştır. Prosesteki önemli teknik zorlukların başında reçineden metallerin sıyırma işlemi gelmektedir. Tiyosülfat liçinin endüstriyel olarak yaygınlaşabilmesi için daha etkin ve ekonomik çözelti saflaştırma/metal kazanımı tekniklerinin geliştirilmesi önem arz etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Tiyosülfat,Yüklü liç çözeltisi,Altın/gümüş,Çözelti saflaştırma ve metal kazanımı

Kaynakça

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