Gold recovery from flotation concentrate from gold mine tailings using dissolve smelting

Abstract

Gold flotation concentrate may contain relatively high concentrations of valuable metals such as iron, copper, and zinc, and occasionally, even precious metals such as gold. The major components of the concentrate are SiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , and Al 2 O 3 , but it also contains reactive sulphide minerals such as pyrite. The sulphides in the flotation concentrate are fully converted into an oxide form during oxidative roasting, therefore, the chemical composition of the roasted concentrate is considered to be a copper slag. High temperature smelting with additives to dissolve Au from the gold concentrate into a molten copper was used in the research. Gold greatly dissolved at 1600°С under a CaO/SiO 2 ratio of 1.25, suggesting the increase in the dissolution of gold into molten copper with decreasing viscosity of the molten slag-like concentrate at high temperatures.

Mapping Recyclability of Industrial Waste for Anthropogenic Circularity: A Circular Economy Approach

“…When combined with sewage sludge or dredging sludge, red mud can catalyze the growth of test plants, allowing for their utilization as secondary materials . For the recovery of gold from its tailings, several technologies such as flotation and cyanidation are available. − Copper tailings have adverse environmental effects due to their acidic content; they also have a significant economic value . Nowadays, popular management choices for copper slag include recycling, metal recovery, value-added item production (e.g., abrasive tools, granules for roofing, cutting tools, abrasive tools, tiles, glass, railroad ballast, and asphalt paving), and disposal in slag dumps and stockpiles. ,− The spent refinery catalysts for metal recovery are significant potential sources for both base and critical metals such as Ni, Co, Mo, W, V, Cr, and Cu …”

Matte separated behavior from slag during the cleaning process by using waste cooking oil as carbon neutral reductant

“…Flotation involves treating the slag with chemicals that bind to the metal and cause hydrophobicity. Then, the foaming agent is added to the water bath, and the metal adsorbed by the bubble floats on the top of the bath under the hydrophobic effect [17,18]. Although the flotation method has low energy consumption and high copper recovery, the water consumption of the flotation method is large, and the waste liquid may cause environmental pollution [16].…”