A Study on the Removal of Penalty Elements and the Improvement of Gold Contents from Gold Concentrate Using Microwave-nitric Acid Leaching

Abstract

요약 : 본 연구는 금 정광에 함유된 비소(As) 및 비스무스(Bi)와 같은 페널티 원소(penalty elements)를 제 거하기 위한 목적으로 마이크로웨이브-질산침출을 이용하였다. 또한, 금 정광 시료로부터 금 함량을 증가시키고자 하였다. 침출조건은 페널티 원소의 제거를 향상시키기 위해 질산농도, 침출시간 그리고 고액비를 변화하였다. 실험결과 고체-잔류물에서 시료무게 감소율, 비소와 비스무스의 제거율 그리고 금 함량은 질산농도와 침출시간이 증가할수록 그리고 고액비가 감소할수록 증가하였다. 최대 비소와 비스무스 제거율 및 금 함량이 얻어지는 침출조건은 질산용액의 농도 6 M, 침출시간 5분이었다. 이 때, 고체-잔류물 시료의 무게 감소는 87 %, 비소 제거율은 98.23 %, 비스무스는 거의 제거(100 %)되었 고 금 함량은 81.36 g/t에서 487.32 g/t으로 증가하였다. 고체-잔류물을 XRD로 분석한 결과, 질산농도 가 증가할수록 황철석 피크들은 사라지고 반면에, 원소 황의 피크들이 증가하였다.주요어 : 페널티 원소, 마이크로웨이브-질산침출, 비소, 비스무스, 금 ABSTRACT : This study used microwave-nitric acid leaching with the aim of removing penalty elements such as As and Bi. Moreover, enhanced gold content from the gold concentrate sample. The leaching conditions were changed: leaching time, nitric acid concentrations and solid-liquid ratio; In order to improve the removal of penalty elements. As a result of the experiment; sample weight loss rate, As and Bi removal rate and gold content in the solid-residues have been increased when the nitric acid concentration and leaching time were increased while the solid-liquid ratio was decreased. The leaching conditions for the maximum As and Bi removal and gold content were: leaching with a 6.0 M nitric acid solution doing 5 min. At these, the solid-residue sample weight loss was 87 %. As removal rate was 98.23 % and Bi was completely removed (100 %). Furthermore, gold content increased from 81.36 g/t to 487.32 g/t. The XRD of the solid residue showed that pyrite disappeared as the nitric acid concentration was increased, whereas sulfur peaks was increased, too.

Liberation of Gold Using Microwave-Nitric Acid Leaching and Separation-Recovery of Native Gold by Hydro-Separation

“…However, when a gold-bearing concentrate is subjected to microwave-nitric acid leaching, only the sulfide minerals are selectively and completely dissolved within a few minutes (approximately 12 min), and gold is not dissolved. In other words, when the sulfide minerals are completely dissolved and removed, the invisible gold trapped inside such minerals is naturally separated [7]. The invisible gold liberated from the sulfide minerals is left in insoluble residues while maintaining its own morphology and size.…”