Flotation extraction of elemental sulfur from gold-bearing cakes

Abstract

Currently, in the development of the raw materials base of the gold mining industry, there is a tendency to reduce the quality of the initial mineral raw materials due to the depletion of reserves of rich gold-bearing ores. The article discusses the technology of extraction of refractory gold-bearing concentrates based on low-temperature leaching of pyrite concentrate. A decrease in the parameters of the autoclave oxidation of sulfide minerals, such as pyrite and arsenopyrite, leads to the incomplete extraction of gold into the solution and, consequently, its losses during subsequent cyanidation. As a possible option for a more complete extraction of gold using low-temperature oxidation technology, a method of flotation separation of elemental sulfur from leaching cakes is proposed. According to the basic process flow chart, the flotation process designed for gold extraction is carried out after autoclave oxidation, but before cyanidation. A series of experiments were carried out with varying reagent conditions and the dependence of gold losses on the extraction of elemental sulfur in the flotation tailings was established. As determining factors, pH and solid content in the initial pulp were considered. The paper justifies the separation of elemental sulfur from autoclave cake to enriched sulfur concentrate. The cake flotation modes after autoclave oxidative leaching of pyrite concentrate are investigated. The distribution of elemental sulfur and gold by flotation products makes it possible to conduct the tailings cyanidation process with acceptable indicators.

Interaction Features of Sodium Oleate and Oxyethylated Phosphoric Acid Esters with the Apatite Surface

“…The experimental study was carried out using a laboratory flotation machine FMP-L1 manufactured by Vektis Minerals (Russia) under following conditions: a volume of flotation capacity of 0.5 L, a mass of the suspension of ore of 50 ± 0.01 g, 90% grain size less than 183 μm, the speed of the impeller of 1000 rpm with an air flow of 3.8 m 3 /min, and stirring the suspension for 1 min. Flotation was carried out for 6 min. − The float and sink products were filtered, washed, dried, and weighed. Equation was used to calculate the extraction degree where m 0 is the mass of the initial sample of ore and m 1 is the mass of the washed and dried foam product.…”

Increasing the efficiency of phosphate ore processing using flotation method

“…Оттирка и обесшламливание руды. Собиратели, как правило, чувствительны к наличию шламов в руде [2,3,9]. Глинистые минералы ультратонкого размера могут покрывать частицы руды и препятствовать прикреплению пузырьков к ценным минеральным частицам, что приводит к снижению эффективности флотации [26,28].…”

Thermodynamic Characteristics of the Hydrogen Sulfide Sorption Process by Ferromanganese Materials

“…Technological processes associated with the processing of minerals, in particular, apatite-nepheline raw materials, as well as metallurgical and chemical production, lead to the formation of large amounts of waste, which is an environmental problem of mineral complexes. One of the significant problems is the emission of process gases into the atmosphere containing toxic substances, including sulfur-containing compounds. − …”