The Reduction of Miller Chlorides with Sodium Carbonate and Carbon

Abstract

AbstractIn the refining of molten gold with chlorine, a copper chloride-silver chloride mixture is produced which is known as Miller chloride. In this work the reduction of the chloride mixture with sodium carbonate and charcoal was studied at temperatures above 1100°C according to the following reactions:2AgCl+Na2CO3 = 2Ag+2NaCl+CO2+1/2O2 2CuCl+Na2CO3+C = 2Cu+2NaCl+CO2+CO.The effects of sodium carbonate additions, charcoal additions, and temperature on the recovery of silver and copper was studied. In order to ensure the maximum recovery of silver and copper, the sodium carbonate addition should be about 10% in excess of the stoichiometric and the charcoal addition should be about 100% in excess of the stoichiometric. Some separation of the silver from the copper could be achieved by controlling the sodium carbonate addition. Resume Dans l'affinage de l'or fondu pat le chlore, un melange chlorure de cuivre-ehlorure d'argent est produit qui est connu sous le nom de chlorure de Miller. Dans ce travail, la ...