Influence of water quality on the autoclave leaching process (on the example of the Bereznyakovsky gold recovery factory)

Abstract

For the first time this article provides a benchmarking analysis of water consumption while using modern technologies of gold recovery from ore; the best ore-processing technology for refractory sulphide ores is identified; and recommendations are given on water and energy saving in the process of autoclave leaching. The authors found that the most efficient technologies for extracting gold for certain geological conditions (gold is embedded in a complex mineral) are: autoclave leaching and bacterial oxidation. They allow you to save water resources, especially if these technologies use mills. The authors give recommendations for using the combined method. The calculation of surface runoff from the sites of the gold processing plant showed that using them, you can save from 3 to 8 percent of the make-up water.