Rate Of Metal Extraction Research Articles

A Planetary Boundary for Mineral, Metal, and Fossil Resource Extraction Rates: How Much Primary Materials Can a Circular Economy Extract?

Resource consumption is expected to further increase in the next decades. A circular economy could decrease the environmental impact of this resource consumption by minimizing the primary raw materials consumption and minimizing emissions that render materials inaccessible for further use. However, such a circular economy will still have primary raw material inflows, due to population growth, stock expansion, energy transition, and inevitable dissipation. The potential magnitude of such primary raw material inflows in a circular economy remains unclear. To address this uncertainty, the planetary boundary framework, which defines absolute limits on resource and emission flows, could be utilized. Although this framework incorporates aspects of biomass, water, and land use, mineral, metal, and fossil resources are not included. This study provides a principle for a planetary boundary for these three resources, based on the net accessibility rate and an allocated share of the accessible resource stock in the ecosphere. Inter- and intragenerational equality are crucial for determining this allocated share and for quantifying a sustainable rate of resource extraction in (an economy transitioning toward) a circular economy. Next steps to operationalize this principle provide further guidance to determine the safe operating space for mineral, metal, and fossil resource extraction.

Oxidation of sulfide mineral and metal extraction analysis in the microwave-assisted roasting pretreatment of refractory gold ore

The recovery of gold from refractory ore could guarantee sustainable development in the gold industry. However, there are many challenges in the treatment of ore, such as environmental pollution and low recovery. In this regard, the current research focuses on the pretreatment of refractory gold ore and investigates the effect of microwave power, the role of additives, and water on the oxidation and decomposition of sulfide minerals. Pretreatment using microwave-assisted roasting with NaClO3 as an additive to the oxidizing agent is a new method of processing refractory gold ore. Oxidation was studied through sulfur and chlorine mass balance analysis and the degree of metal extraction from sulfide minerals. SEM analysis was carried out to complete the study of the phase change of compounds in the oxidation of mineral sulfides. Roasting of refractory gold ore with a composition of 180 kg NaClO3 and 180 kg water/ton ore reached a temperature of 470 °C at a microwave power of 400 watts for 30 minutes. Total oxidized sulfur reached 90.6%, while only 10.4 % of the sulfur was released, and chlorine release was 49.5%. In addition, water leaching was conducted to investigate the extraction rate of metals after roasting. The results showed that the water leaching extraction of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Fe reached 84.3%, 97.6%, 22.8%, and 8.4%, respectively. Applying microwaves with appropriate concentrations of additives and water resulted in high oxidation of sulfide minerals (>90%) and low sulfur emissions in roasting refractory gold ore with relatively low power, temperature, and time. Moreover, leaching this roasted gold ore resulted in gold extraction of 92.5%; however, leaching of refractory gold without pretreatment resulted in gold extraction of only 47.5%.

Study on the synergistic mechanism of sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate on the extraction of metals from ferronickel slag by roasting

Due to the complex occurrence state of valuable metals in ferronickel slag, the metal extraction rate of the ammonium sulfate roasting process is insufficient. This study proposes a more cost-effective strategy to extract ferronickel slag valuable metals by mixed roasting with sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate. The effects of the reagent dosage, roasting temperature and roasting time on the metal extraction rate of (NH4)2SO4 roasting, H2SO4 roasting and (NH4)2SO4 and H2SO4 mixed roasting were compared and analyzed. XRD, SEM and TG-DSC were used to reveal the mechanism of mixed roasting to optimize the metal extraction effect from ferronickel slag. The results showed that mixed roasting with a mass ratio of ammonium sulfate to sulfuric acid of 1:1 could reduce the dosage of ammonium sulfate roasting by 2.5 times, and the leaching rates of valuable metals Mg, Fe, Al and Cr increased by 17.46%, 42.8%, 26.06% and 24.89%, respectively. Likewise, comparing to sulfuric acid roasting, the acid consumption of mixed roasting was reduced by two-thirds, and the metal leaching rate was increased by 10.08%, 12.98%, 18.76% and 45.18%, respectively. The “synergistic” mechanism of sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate on metal extraction by roasting is as follows: ① Before roasting, sulfuric acid partially destroys the surface structure of ferronickel slag particles, forming more pores and channels, creating conditions for the rapid diffusion of ammonium sulfate and sulfuric acid into the slag particles. ② Sulfuric acid reacts with ammonium sulfate to form NH4HSO4, which is more acidic and can accelerate conversion to soluble metal complexes. ③ The addition of sulfuric acid greatly advances the initial temperature of the reaction between ammonium sulfate and metals, widening the temperature range of sulfation roasting and reducing the difficulty of the reaction between ammonium sulfate and metals in ferronickel slag. ④ The liquid–solid reaction increases the reaction interface, improves the mass and heat transfer efficiency and enhances the degree of metal acidification.

Bioleaching of polymetallic sulphidic mining residues: influence of increasing solid concentration on microbial community dynamics and metal dissolution

Within the European research project NEMO, a bioleaching strategy was developed for efficient metal extraction from bioleach residue currently heap-leached at Sotkamo (Finland) that still contains sulphidic minerals and valuable metals (Ni, Zn, Co, Cu). The strategy of gradually increasing the solid content with 5% steps allowed the adaptation of the consortium up to 20% (w/w) solid content, with efficient metal dissolution and same dominant bacteria. Largest proportions of Sulfobacillusthermosulfidooxidans while Eh increased suggested it to be most involved in iron oxidation. Acidithiobacilluscaldus was rather found when pH stabilized, in line with a production of protons from sulphur oxidation that maintained low pH. ‘Acidithiomicrobium’ P2 was favoured towards the end of the runs and at 20% (w/w) solids possibly due to its tolerance to Ni. The use of gene abundance to evaluate biomass in the pulp provided complementary results to classical cell counts in the liquid phase, and suggested a key role of bacteria associated to mineral particles in iron oxidation. Scaling-up in 21-L stirred-tank reactor at 20% (w/w) solids had no detrimental effect on bioleaching and confirmed metal extraction rates. ‘Acidithiomicrobium’ P2 and Sb. thermosulfidooxidans remained main actors. However, the biological activity was considerably reduced at 30% (w/w) solid concentration, which may be due to a too drastic environmental change for the bacteria to adapt to higher solid concentration. Efficient bioleaching of Sotkamo bioleaching residue at high solid concentration was demonstrated, as well as the robustness of the selected moderately thermophilic consortium, at laboratory and pilot scales.

Phytoremediation strategies for heavy metal-contaminated soil by selecting native plants near mining areas in Inner Mongolia.

Phytoremediation technology, as an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach, is widely used to restore soil contaminated by heavy metal(loid)s. However, the adaptability and absorption capacity of plants to multiple elements are the crucial factors affecting the application of phytoremediation in mining areas. In this study, dominant native plant species and their paired soils were collected near a lead-zinc mine in Inner Mongolia, to assess the ecological risk of heavy metal(loid)s and phytoremediation potential. The results showed that Cd and As were the dominant soil pollutants, with levels of 90.91% and 100%, respectively, exceeding the risk intervention values for soil contamination of agricultural land. The rates of Pb, Cu, and Zn exceeding the risk screening values were 69.70%, 60.61%, and 96.97%, respectively. Extremely high ecological risk of heavy metal(loid)s was observed in this area. The ability of native plants accumulating heavy metals varied among species. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) varied from 0.14 to 2.59 for Cd, 0.02 to 0.45 for As, 0.06 to 0.76 for Pb, 0.05 to 2.69 for Cr, 0.15 to 1.00 for Cu, and 0.22 to 4.10 for Zn. Chinese Cinquefoil Herb (Potentilla chinensis Ser.) showed the potential to accumulate multiple toxic elements based on the biomass, shoot content, translocation factor (TF), BCF, and metal extraction rate (MER), while, other species showed the potential to accumulate single toxic element: goosefoot (Chenopodium album L.), Lespedeza daurica (Laxm.) Schindl. and peashrubs (Caragana korshinskii Kom.), Herba Artemisiae Scopariae (Artemisia capillaris Thunb.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and Moldavian Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) for Cd, As, Cr, Cu, and Zn, respectively. Furthermore, wild leek (Allium ramosum L.), cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.), fringed sagebrush (Artemisia frigida Willd.), and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.) were selected for phytostabilization of specific elements, considering the heavy metal contents in the roots and low TF values. This study provides a reference for selecting appropriate species for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils in certain mining areas.

Impacts of periodic saltwater inundation on heavy metals in soils from the Pearl River Delta, China

The alluvial plain delta is vulnerable to complex land–sea interactions as a result of rising sea levels and increasing storm surges due to global environmental change. Topsoil samples (0–20 cm) from the Pearl River Delta (PRD) were subjected to periodic artificial saltwater inundation treatments with varying salinities (0, 35‰, 40‰, 50‰) for 50 days to explore the impacts of saltwater inundation on heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn) in soils. The inundation treatments reached dynamic equilibrium in approximately 20 days, and heavy metals were promoted to release into leachate. The extraction rate of heavy metals was highest with artificial saltwater at 40‰ salinity, which was generally attributed to pH variation, increasing ionic strength and reductive dissolution of Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides. However, once the salinity reached 50‰, a higher SO2- 4concentration could depress the release of heavy metals by providing more negative adsorption sites. Cd in soils was most likely to leach, followed by Zn, but Pb showed higher retention. After saltwater inundation, the bioavailability of heavy metals decreased in the order Cd > Zn > Pb. Redundancy analysis (RDA) results demonstrated that Cd and Zn are more susceptible to soluble salt ions in soils than Pb. The retention of Pb could be attributed to its larger ionic radius and reduced hydrated radius as well as the stable species under the pH conditions of the treatments. This study suggests that the migration of heavy metals could reduce the water quality and increase the ecological risk of the interaction zone between land and sea.

Two-Stage Oxidative Leaching of Low-Grade Copper-Zinc Sulfide Concentrate.

Bioleaching may be effectively used to extract nonferrous metals from sulfide ores and concentrates. At the same time, some minerals are refractory and their bioleaching rate is often comparatively low that does not allow the required metal extraction rate to be achieved. In the present work, we studied the two-stage process, which included stages of biological and chemical leaching, to improve copper extraction from low grade Cu–Zn sulfide concentrate containing chalcopyrite, tennantite, pyrite, and sphalerite. Bioleaching was conducted in the continuous mode in three laboratory scale reactors connected in series. The pulp density was 10% and the residence time was 7 days. The temperature was 40 °C in the 1st reactor and 50 °C in the 2nd and 3rd reactors. Bioleaching allowed the extraction of 29.5 and 78% of Cu and Zn, respectively. The solid bioleach residue obtained was then treated for additional Cu and Zn recovery using high temperature leaching at 90 °C for 25 h. The liquid phase of the bioleaching pulp contained Fe3+ ions, which is the strong oxidant, and the leach solution was supplemented with NaCl. In the presence of the maximal NaCl concentration (1 M), Cu and Zn extraction reached 48 and 84%. Thus, two-stage leaching may allow to increase bioleaching efficiency and may be used to improve the bioleaching rate of refractory minerals, such as chalcopyrite.

Characterization of synthetic turf rubber granule infill in Japan: Total content and migration of metals

We evaluated the total content of 28 metals in synthetic turf rubber granule infill and performed extraction tests using four types of simulated biofluids to assess the health effects of synthetic turf crumb rubbers used in Japan. The highest median metal concentration was obtained for Zn, with median concentrations above 100 μg/g, followed by Al, Fe, and Mn. The highest median Pb concentration was 19.9 μg/g. The metal concentrations of the samples were different depending on the origin/material. Among high-concentration metals, Al, Fe, and Mn were higher in ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, and Zn was higher in tires. Significantly higher Sb and Sr concentrations were observed in other materials, including industrial rubber, synthetic rubber, and thermoplastic elastomer, compared with tires. However, significantly higher Sn, Co, Pb, and Cd concentrations were detected in tires compared with other materials. Metals with high concentrations independent of the origin/material were considered derived from materials added during the manufacturing process. To evaluate the bioaccessibility, extraction tests were conducted using simulated biofluids. In gastric fluid, many metals were detected in higher concentrations than in other biofluids, intestinal fluid, saliva, and sweat, and the extraction rate of most metals exceeded 10% in artificial gastric fluid. Because the amount of metals leached into the simulated biofluids was much lower than several standards on the amount of certain metals that have the potential to be extracted from the object if ingested, the risk related to the exposure to metals from synthetic turf rubber granule infill is considered low.

Fractionation of Transition Metals by Solvent Extraction and Precipitation from Tannic Acid-Acetic Acid Leachate as a Product of Lithium-Ion Battery Leaching

Solvent extraction and precipitation schemes are applied to isolate copper, cobalt, manganese and nickel from leachate, produced from spent lithium-ion battery leaching using tannic acid-acetic acid as lixiviant. The metal separation and purification were developed based on a ketoxime (LIX® 84-I) and a phosphinic acid (Cyanex® 272) extraction system. Aside from the leachate’s initial pH, which dictates the metal isolation flowsheet, other parameters affecting metal extraction rate, such as phase ratio, extractant concentration, and acid stripping will be evaluated. Copper was selectively removed from leachate at pH 3, using LIX® 84-I 10% v/v followed by cobalt and manganese co-extraction from the raffinate using Cyanex® 272 10% v/v at pH 5. After both metals were stripped using sulfuric acid 0.2 M, manganese was quantitatively precipitated out from the strip solution using potassium permanganate or sodium hypochlorite. Nickel was isolated using LIX® 84-I from raffinate at pH 5, producing a lithium- rich solution for further treatment. No third phase was formed during the extraction, and sulfuric acid was proved suitable for organic phase regeneration.

On the concept of in-situ metal leaching

The information on history of in-situ metal leaching method (ISL) was given. The role of Russian scientists and research organizations in research into ISL processes was shown. Examples of ISL application at the mines of the USSR, the CIS and nonCIS countries with the implementation features were given. The main disadvantages of ISL were formulated: low rate of metal production and difficulty in monitoring the completeness of metal recovery into pregnant solution. It was noted that underground leaching of even well-crushed ores lasts for many years. This, under otherwise equal conditions, decreases attractiveness of ISL in comparison with traditional methods of metal mining. Well-known and new promising methods of the leaching process intensification for increasing the rate of metal extraction into solution were described. As illustrated by the North Caucasian deposits of the Sadon group, the expediency of ISL use for extracting the residual reserves, which would not be extracted by the traditional methods, was shown. The role of Professor I.A. Ostroushko in development and implementation of methods for extracting metals remained in the mined-out space of mines, in particular, by extracting metals from the Sadon deposits wastewater. Information on the current state of ISL application was given. The conclusion was made about insufficient use of this promising method in mining in some regions. For the first time, the details of the ISL general concept were clarified: the feasibility of ISL use not only in favorable conditions, but also at non-continuous geology and mineralization; ISL applicability for not only substandard ores (non-extractable by traditional mining methods), but also for balance reserves; ISL (block leaching) was proposed as an alternative to traditional mining methods in specific conditions, for example, at the North Caucasian complex ore deposits.

Prospects for development of Sadon deposits by in-situ leaching

The information on history of in-situ metal leaching method (ISL) was given. The role of Russian scientists and research organizations in research into ISL processes was shown. Examples of ISL application at the mines of the USSR, the CIS and non-CIS countries with the implementation features were given. The main disadvantages of ISL were formulated: low rate of metal production and difficulty in monitoring the completeness of metal recovery into pregnant solution. It was noted that underground leaching of even well-crushed ores lasts for many years. This, under otherwise equal conditions, decreases attractiveness of ISL in comparison with traditional methods of metal mining. Well-known and new promising methods of the leaching process intensification for increasing the rate of metal extraction into solution were described. As illustrated by the North Caucasian deposits of the Sadon group, the expediency of ISL use for extracting the residual reserves, which would not be extracted by the traditional methods, was shown. The role of Professor I. A. Ostroushko in development and implementation of methods for extracting metals remained in the mined-out space of mines, in particular, by extracting metals from the Sadon deposits wastewater. Information on the current state of ISL application was given. The conclusion was made about insufficient use of this promising method in mining in some regions. For the first time, the details of the ISL general concept were clarified: the feasibility of ISL use not only in favorable conditions, but also at non-continuous geology and mineralization; ISL applicability for not only substandard ores (non-extractable by traditional mining methods), but also for balance reserves; ISL (block leaching) was proposed as an alternative to traditional mining methods in specific conditions, for example, at the North Caucasian complex ore deposits.

Research of extraction behavior of heavy metal Cd in tea based on backpropagation neural network.

In order to meet the increasing demand for food and beverage safety and quality, this study focused on the application of a back propagation (BP) neural network to determine the leaching rate of heavy metal in tea to improve the scientific health of tea drinking. The evaluation index and target expectations have been determined based on the extraction experiment of heavy metal Cd in tea soaking, with 3 evaluation index values taken as input layer parameters and the heavy metal extraction rate taken as output layer parameter. Then, employ the sample data standardized by min‐max linearization method to train and test the network model and get the satisfactory results, which showed that the constructed BP neural network expressed a fast convergence speed and the systematic error was as low as 0.0003509. Additionally, there was no significance between Cd leaching rate of experimental results and neural network model results by reliability testing with a correlation coefficient was .9895. These results revealed that the network model established possessed an outstanding training accuracy and generalization performance, which effectively reflected the extraction rate of heavy metal in tea soaking and improved the safety of tea drinking.

Effect of ultrasound on bioleaching of hydrodesulphurization spent catalyst

Abstract Bioleaching is recognized as a green process for the extraction of metal values from ores or metal-laden solid wastes. However, the slow rate of extraction is a major limitation which needs to be addressed. Application of ultrasound in bioleaching, also known as sonobioleaching, may achieve a higher rate and extent of metal extraction. Although fungal sonobioleaching has been examined, the use of ultrasound in bacterial bioleaching remains unexplored. In this study, bacterial sonobioleaching of spent catalyst (containing Mo, Ni, and Al) using Escherichia coli is reported for the first time In two-step bioleaching, the effect of ultrasound (at 37 kHz and 80 kHz) was examined using continuous and discontinuous sonication. Initiation time of sonication after addition of catalyst was varied (at day 2, day 4 and day 6) to examine its effect on metal extraction. Application of discontinuous sonication led to an increase in Mo leaching from 46% to 54%. Multiple time sonication resulted in a higher increase in metal extraction than one-time continuous sonication. The increase in Mo extraction is attributed to the cavitation effects of sonication which includes better mixing within the pores and low NaCl depositions.

Electrochemical effect on bioleaching of arsenic and manganese from tungsten mine wastes using Acidithiobacillus spp.

Mine wastes from tungsten mine which contain a high concentration of arsenic (As) may expose many environmental problems because As is very toxic. This study aimed to evaluate bioleaching efficiency of As and manganese (Mn) from tungsten mine wastes using the pure and mixed culture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and A. thiooxidans. The electrochemical effect of the electrode through externally applied voltage on bacterial growth and bioleaching efficiency was also clarified. The obtained results indicated that both the highest As extraction efficiency (96.7%) and the highest Mn extraction efficiency (100%) were obtained in the mixed culture. A. ferrooxidans played a more important role than A. thiooxidans in the extraction of As whereas A. thiooxidans was more significant than A. ferrooxidans in the extraction of Mn. Unexpectedly, the external voltage applied to the bioleaching did not enhance metal extraction rate but inhibited bacterial growth, resulting in a reverse effect on bioleaching efficiency. This could be due to the low electrical tolerance of bioleaching bacteria. However, this study asserted that As and Mn could be successfully removed from tungsten mine waste by the normal bioleaching using the mixed culture of A. ferrooxidans and A. thiooxidans.

A Review of the Application of Ultrasound in Bioleaching and Insights from Sonication in (Bio)Chemical Processes

Chemical and biological leaching is practiced on a commercial scale for the mining of metals from ores. Although bioleaching is an environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical leaching, one of the principal shortcomings is the slow rate of leaching which needs to be addressed. The application of ultrasound in bioleaching, termed sonobioleaching, is a technique which has been reported to increase the rate and extent of metal extraction. This article reviews efforts made in the field of sonobioleaching. Since bioleaching is effectively a biological and chemical process, the effects of sonication on chemical leaching/reactions and biological processes are also reviewed. Although sonication increases metal extraction by increasing the metabolite production and enhanced mixing at a micro scale, research is limited in terms of the microorganisms explored. This paper highlights some shortcomings and limitations of existing techniques, and proposes directions for future research.

Variation law of gas holdup in an autoclave during the pressure leaching process by using a mixed-flow agitator

The multiphase reaction process of pressure leaching is mainly carried out in the liquid phase. Therefore, gas holdup is essential for the gas–liquid–solid phase reaction and the extraction rate of valuable metals. In this paper, a transparent quartz autoclave, a six blades disc turbine-type agitator, and a high-speed camera were used to investigate the gas holdup of the pressure leaching process. Furthermore, experiments determining the effects of agitation rate, temperature, and oxygen partial pressure on gas holdup were carried out. The results showed that when the agitation rate increased from 350 to 600 r/min, the gas holdup increased from 0.10% to 0.64%. When the temperature increased from 363 to 423 K, the gas holdup increased from 0.14% to 0.20%. When the oxygen partial pressure increased from 0.1 to 0.8 MPa, the gas holdup increased from 0.13% to 0.19%. A similar criteria relationship was established by Homogeneous Principle and Buckingham’s theorem. Comprehensively, empirical equation of gas holdup was deduced on the basis of experimental data and the similarity theory, where the criterion equation was determined as e = 4.54 × 10-11 n 3.65 T 2.08 P g 0.18. It can be seen from the formula that agitation rate made the most important impact on gas holdup in the pressure leaching process using the mixed-flow agitator.

Avaliação do potencial fitorremediador de crisântemo em solo com excesso de cobre

Minimizing the harmful effects of copper (Cu) in the soil, using plants are slow and gradual, requiring the identification of species with fitorremediativa fitness for this process. Thus, the present work had as objective to evaluate the cultivation of chrysanthemum cv. Dark Fiji in soil added with Cu as promising phytoremediation. The experiment was conducted in the period from July to December 2014, in the greenhouse of the Floriculture UFSM. In a completely randomized experimental design, with five treatments composed of doses of Cu added to the soil, in the amounts of 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 mg kg-1 and control (without addition), with five replications. In two crop cycles both with duration of 104 days from the production of seedlings to harvest. Chrysanthemum cuttings were obtained from cuttings collected in the garden clonal itself, with 8 cm long, rooted in commercial substrate and transplanted into containers containing soil. They evaluated phytotechnical parameters and translocation factors of aerial part of bioaccumulation and bioconcentration factor of Cu in plant roots and metal extraction rate. It was observed that at all doses of Cu added to the soil, the plants showed low plant development and floriferous affecting its aesthetic quality in both crop cycles. The high accumulation of Cu in the roots is indicative of growing tolerance, cv. Dark Fiji in areas with excess of this, with phytoremediation potential.

Phytoextraction of arsenic-contaminated soil with Pteris vittata in Henan Province, China: comprehensive evaluation of remediation efficiency correcting for atmospheric depositions.

Research on the appropriate method for evaluating phytoremediation efficiency is limited. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to investigate phytoremediation efficiency using the hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata on an arsenic (As)-contaminated site. The remediation efficiency was evaluated through the removal rate of As in soils and extraction rate of heavy metals in plants. After 2years of remediation, the concentration of total As in soils decreased from 16.27mgkg-1 in 2012 to 14.58mgkg-1 in 2014. The total remediation efficiency of As was 10.39% in terms of the removal rate of heavy metals calculated for soils, whereas the remediation efficiency calculated from As uptake by P. vittata was 16.09%. Such a discrepancy aroused further consideration on the potential input of As. A large amount of As was brought in by atmospheric emissions, which possibly biased the calculation of remediation efficiency. In fact, considering also the atmospheric depositions of As, the corrected removal rate of As from soil was 16.57%. Therefore, the results of this work suggest that (i) when evaluating the phytoextraction efficiency, the whole input and output cycle of the element of interest in the targeted ecosystem must be considered, and (ii) P. vittata has the potential to be used to remediate As-contaminated soils in Henan Province, China.

Comparative assessment of heap leach production data – 1. A procedure for deriving the batch leach curve

A method is provided for deriving the average macro-scale batch leaching kinetics of ore on a commercial heap on which portions of the heap (or cells) possess a range of leaching ages due to irrigation commencing while stacking is still in progress. It has been designed to require as only inputs the average ore grade, daily amount of ore stacked and the rate of metal extraction to a common drainage collection point for all cells.A comparison of the batch curve, thus derived, with the batch curve upon which the design of the pad footprint was based provides an early indication of the likelihood of reaching the desired rate of metal production. Furthermore, any attempt to fit the performance of a leaching model to that of a commercial heap requires the description of heap leaching kinetics in the form of a batch curve, since leaching models typically produce batch curves as simulation outputs.The procedure relies on the selection of a functional form, denoted Xi(t), to describe the macro-kinetic batch extraction curve from a single cell (or part thereof) on a heap. Summation over time of the contributions to production from all cells stacked up to time t, assuming each cell leaches according to Xi(t), yields a calculated production graph. The parameters of the function Xi(t) are adjusted to minimise the sum of squared residuals between observed and calculated production graphs. Xi(t) thus found defines the batch curve sought. The procedure can be implemented on a spreadsheet and can be applied to both the rate of valuable target metal extraction and the rate of reagent consumption.In a subsequent paper the application of the method on commercial heap leaching production data will be demonstrated. From the optimised parameters in Xi(t) conclusions can be drawn about the efficiency of wetting of the ore, the relative rate of leaching and the diffusional restriction to reagent supply to the mineral surface.

Task-specific thioglycolate ionic liquids for heavy metal extraction: Synthesis, extraction efficacies and recycling properties

Eight novel task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) based on the thioglycolate anion designed for heavy metal extraction have been prepared and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, UV-Vis, infrared, ESI-MS, conductivity, viscosity, density and thermal properties. Evaluation of their time-resolved extraction abilities towards cadmium(II) and copper(II) in aqueous solutions have been investigated where distribution ratios up to 1200 were observed. For elucidation of the IL extraction mode, crystals were grown where Cd(II) was converted with an excess of S-butyl thioglycolate. It was found by X-ray diffraction analysis that cadmium is coordinated by five oxygen and one sulfur donor atoms provided by two thioglycolate molecules and one water molecule. Leaching behavior of the hydrophobic ionic liquids into aqueous systems was studied by TOC (total dissolved organic carbon) measurements. Additionally, the immobilization on polypropylene was elucidated and revealed slower metal extraction rates and similar leaching behavior. Finally, recovery processes for cadmium and copper after extraction were performed and recyclability was successfully proven for both metals.