Abstract
The recovery of gold from solutions containing thiosulfate and ammonia using granular activated carbon was studied, evaluating the adsorption and elution stages. The influence of ammonia and thiosulfate concentration and the presence of impurities such as copper and zinc were also evaluated. In the presence of ammonia there was a concentration which maximized the adsorption of gold, while thiosulfate and impurities presence was harmful for the adsorption of gold. During elution, ammonia and thiosulfate concentration, pH regulator and temperature were evaluated. Ammonia favored the process as long as thiosulfate showed a maximum starting from which the elution diminishes. The effect of the pH regulator was very important; If was revealed that when the pH was regulated with caustic ammonia, a synergic effect appeared which favored the elution. Temperature favored the elution process, with activation energy of 9.13 kJ/mol.
Highlights
Se estudió la recuperación de oro de disoluciones de tiosulfato y amoniaco, utilizando carbón activado en gránulos, evaluando las etapas de adsorción y desorción
In the presence of ammonia there was a concentration which maximized the adsorption of gold, while thiosulfate and impurities presence was harmful for the adsorption of gold
The effect of the pH regulator was very important; If was revealed that when the pH was regulated with caustic ammonia, a synergic effect appeared which favored the elution
Summary
El proceso más utilizado para la disolución de oro es la lixiviación con cianuro[1 y 2]. Se buscan nuevos reactivos que mejoren la velocidad de lixiviación del oro que logren procesar menas refractarias, incluso como, por ejemplo, con presencia de cobre. Las técnicas usualmente utilizadas para la recuperación de oro de las disoluciones provenientes de la lixiviación son: cementación con polvo de cinc, adsorción en carbón activado, extracción por disolventes y adsorción en resinas de intercambio iónico. El uso de carbón activado, extracción por disolventes y resinas de intercambio iónico, en medio tiosulfato-amoniaco, han sido poco estudiados y actualmente se encuentran en plena etapa de investigación y desarrollo[15,16,17,18]. Se presentan los resultados obtenidos al utilizar carbón activado en forma granular en la adsorción y desorción de oro a partir de disoluciones acuosas conteniendo tiosulfato y amoniaco
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