Abstract

 
 
 The most common method for gold content determination in raw materials is fire assay. An alternative to this method is atomic absorption in a solution obtained by dissolving an initial sample in aqua regia. This study focuses on the sludge of one of the chemical plants, in which the barite concentrate (barium in sulphate form) is fused with calcium chloride at coal presence, and then leached in water. Decomposition of samples in aqua regia followed by atomic absorption analysis, as well as fire assay, showed gold content in the sludge at the level of 1-4 gram per ton. The presence of infusible and chemically resistant compounds in the sludge does not allow to the reliable determination of the gold content. Sintering with sodium peroxide for decomposition of stable compounds at 700 ∘ C, dissolution of sinter in acidic solution, evaporation and fire assay of residue made it possible to establish a reliable concentration of gold in the sludge - 10-20 gram per ton. It was found that a direct determination of gold in acidic sinter leach solution provides inadequate values associated with the influence of the background.
 Keywords: Gold determination, barium sludge, fire assay, atomic absorption
 
 
Highlights
Gold – is a noble metal, in human life it is of great importance
An alternative to the gravimetric method, as the final stage of the fire assay analysis, is the atomic absorption determination of gold in a solution obtained by dissolving the initial sample or intermediate smelting product
It was of interest to elucidate the quantitative effect of the background characteristics of alkali metals, primarily those that are present in solutions of the decomposition of cakes - Na and Ba on the results of atomic absorption gold
Summary
Gold – is a noble metal, in human life it is of great importance. In the earth’s crust is present exclusively in elemental form. Small particles of gold are interspersed in quartz or in sulfide minerals [1,2,3,4] Such raw materials are processed by metallurgical methods. An alternative to the gravimetric method, as the final stage of the fire assay analysis, is the atomic absorption determination of gold in a solution obtained by dissolving the initial sample or intermediate smelting product. Modern instruments make it possible to correctly determine gold at a concentration of less than 0.1 mg/dm. The reasons for obtaining overstated results are the subject of special studies
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