Biooxidation‒thiosulfate leaching of refractory gold concentrate

He-fei Zhao; Hong-ying Yang; Lin-lin Tong; Qin Zhang; Ye Kong

doi:10.1007/s12613-020-1964-9

Volume 27 Issue 8

Aug. 2020

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2020 > 27(8): 1075-1082

He-fei Zhao, Hong-ying Yang, Lin-lin Tong, Qin Zhang, and Ye Kong, Biooxidation‒thiosulfate leaching of refractory gold concentrate, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 27(2020), No. 8, pp. 1075-1082. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-1964-9

Cite this article as:

He-fei Zhao, Hong-ying Yang, Lin-lin Tong, Qin Zhang, and Ye Kong, Biooxidation‒thiosulfate leaching of refractory gold concentrate, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 27(2020), No. 8, pp. 1075-1082. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-1964-9

Citation:

PDF( 886 KB)

Research Article

Biooxidation‒thiosulfate leaching of refractory gold concentrate

+ Author Affiliations

Corresponding author:
Hong-ying Yang E-mail: yanghy@smm.neu.edu.cn
Received: 21 July 2019; Revised: 2 December 2019; Accepted: 11 December 2019; Available online: 8 January 2020

Abstract

Abstract

A process of biooxidation followed by thiosulfate leaching of gold from refractory gold concentrate was investigated. Mineralogical studies on the concentrate showed that very fine gold grains (<10 μm) were encapsulated in pyrite and arsenopyrite, while the proportion of monomer gold was only 21%. The gold-bearing sample was identified as a high-sulfur fine-sized wrapped-type refractory gold concentrate. The gold leaching efficiency obtained by direct cyanidation was only 59.86%. After biooxidation pretreatment, the sulfide minerals were almost completely decomposed, 92wt% of the mineral particles of the biooxidation residue were decreased to <38 μm, and the proportion of monomer gold in the biooxidation residue was over 86%. Meanwhile, the gold content in the biooxidation residue was enriched to 55.60 g/t, and the S, Fe, and As contents were reduced to approximately 19.8wt%, 6.97wt%, and 0.13wt%, respectively. Ammoniacal thiosulfate was used for gold extraction from the biooxidation residue of the refractory gold concentrate. The results showed that the optimal reagent conditions were 0.18 M thiosulfate, 0.02 M copper(II), 1.0 M ammonia, and 0.24 M sulfite. Under these conditions, a maximum gold leaching efficiency of 85.05% was obtained.
- thiosulfate;
- leaching gold;
- biooxidation;
- refractory gold concentrate;
- process mineralogy

FullText(HTML)

Supplements(0)

References(42)

References

[1]	P.L. Breuer, X. Dai, and M.I. Jeffrey, Leaching of gold and copper minerals in cyanide deficient copper solutions, Hydrometallurgy, 78(2005), No. 3-4, p. 156. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2005.02.004
[2]	G. Hilson and A.J. Monhemius, Alternatives to cyanide in the gold mining industry: what prospects for the future? J. Cleaner Prod., 14(2006), No. 12-13, p. 1158.
[3]	D.M. Muir, A review of the selective leaching of gold from oxidised copper–gold ores with ammonia–cyanide and new insights for plant control and operation, Miner. Eng., 24(2011), No. 6, p. 576. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2010.08.022
[4]	G.J. Sparrow and J.T. Woodcock, Cyanide and other lixiviant leaching systems for gold with some practical applications, Miner, Miner. Process. Extr. Metall. Rev., 14(1995), No. 3-4, p. 193. doi: 10.1080/08827509508914125
[5]	B.J. Kerley Jr., Recovery of Precious Metals from Difficult Ores, US Patent, Appl. 06/108168, 1979.
[6]	C.A. Fleming, J. McMullen, K.G. Thomas, and J.A. Wells, Recent advances in the development of an alternative to the cyanidation process: Thiosulfate leaching and resin in pulp, Miner. Metall. Process., 20(2003), No. 1, p. 1.
[7]	C. Xia, Associated Sulfide Minerals in Thiosulfate Leaching of Gold: Problems and Solutions [Dissertation], Queen’s University, Ontario, 2008, p. 7.
[8]	D.M. Muir and M.G. Aylmore, Thiosulphate as an alternative to cyanide for gold processing – Issues and impediments, Miner. Process. Extr. Metall., 113(2004), No. 1, p. 2. doi: 10.1179/037195504225004661
[9]	D. Feng and J.S.J. van Deventer, Ammoniacal thiosulphate leaching of gold in the presence of pyrite, Hydrometallurgy, 82(2006), No. 3-4, p. 126. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2006.03.006
[10]	Y.B. Yang, X. Zhang, X.U. Bin, L.I. Qian, T. Jiang, and Y.X. Wang, Effect of arsenopyrite on thiosulfate leaching of gold, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 25(2015), No. 10, p. 3454. doi: 10.1016/S1003-6326(15)63982-6
[11]	M.Z. Mubarok, R. Winarko, S.K. Chaerun, I.N. Rizki, and Z.T. Ichlas, Improving gold recovery from refractory gold ores through biooxidation using iron-sulfur-oxidizing/sulfur-oxidizing mixotrophic bacteria, Hydrometallurgy, 168(2017), p. 69. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2016.10.018
[12]	D. Feng and J.S.J. van Deventer, Oxidative pre-treatment in thiosulphate leaching of sulphide gold ores, Int. J. Miner. Process., 94(2010), No. 1-2, p. 28. doi: 10.1016/j.minpro.2009.11.002
[13]	O. Celep, İ. Alp, and H. Deveci, Improved gold and silver extraction from a refractory antimony ore by pretreatment with alkaline sulphide leach, Hydrometallurgy, 105(2011), No. 3-4, p. 234. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2010.10.005
[14]	M. Lampinen, A. Laari, and I. Turunen, Ammoniacal thiosulfate leaching of pressure oxidized sulfide gold concentrate with low reagent consumption, Hydrometallurgy, 151(2015), p. 1. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2014.10.014
[15]	B. Xu, Y.B. Yang, T. Jiang, Q. Li, X. Zhang, and D. Wang, Improved thiosulfate leaching of a refractory gold concentrate calcine with additives, Hydrometallurgy, 152(2015), p. 214. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2014.12.016
[16]	C.L. Brierley, How will biomining be applied in future? Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 18(2008), No. 6, p. 1302.
[17]	Q. Liu, H.Y. Yang, L.L. Tong, and L.L. Qiao, Bio-degradation of activated carbon by rhodopseudomonas spheroides, J. Northeastern Univ. Nat. Sci., 36(2015), No. 6, p. 814.
[18]	C.L. Brierley, Mining biotechnology: Research to commercial development and beyond, [in] Biomining: Theory, Microbes and Industrial Processes, Berlin, 1997, p. 3.
[19]	R.K. Amankwah, W.T. Yen, and J.A. Ramsay, A two-stage bacterial pretreatment process for double refractory gold ores, Miner. Eng., 18(2005), No. 1, p. 103. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2004.05.009
[20]	J.R. Cui and L.F. Zhang, Metallurgical recovery of metals from electronic waste: A review, J. Hazard. Mater., 158(2008), No. 2-3, p. 228. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.02.001
[21]	H.Y. Yang, Q. Liu, X.L. Song, and J.K. Dong, Research status of carbonaceous matter in carbonaceous gold ores and bio-oxidation pretreatment, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 23(2013), No. 11, p. 3405. doi: 10.1016/S1003-6326(13)62881-2
[22]	W.T. Yen and R.A. Pindred, Gold and silver extraction with non-cyanide reagents from a refractory complex sulphide ore, [in] Processing of Complex Ores, Pergamon, 1989, p. 421.
[23]	H. Tan, D. Feng, G.C. Lukey, and J.S.J. van Deventer, The behaviour of carbonaceous matter in cyanide leaching of gold, Hydrometallurgy, 78(2005), No. 3-4, p. 226. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2005.03.001
[24]	Q.Q. Li, Y.R. Chen, M.J. Chen, and Y.S. Ge, Experimental investigation on ssure oxidation-cyanide leaching process for refractory gold sulfide concentrates, Gold, (2013), No. 2, p. 15.
[25]	M.G. Aylmore, D.M. Muir, and W.P. Staunton, Staunton, Effect of minerals on the stability of gold in copper ammoniacal thiosulfate solutions — The role of copper, silver and polythionates, Hydrometallurgy, 143(2014), p. 12. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2013.12.001
[26]	J. Mirza, S.R. Smith, J.Y. Baron, Y. Choi, and J. Lipkowski, A SERS characterization of the stability of polythionates at the gold-electrolyte interface, Surf. Sci., 631(2015), p. 196. doi: 10.1016/j.susc.2014.05.019
[27]	M.G. Aylmore and D.M. Muir, Thiosulfate leaching of gold — A review, Miner. Eng., 14(2001), No. 2, p. 135. doi: 10.1016/S0892-6875(00)00172-2
[28]	M.I. Jeffrey, L. Linda, P.L. Breuer, and C.K. Chu, A kinetic and electrochemical study of the ammonia cyanide process for leaching gold in solutions containing copper, Miner. Eng., 15(2002), No. 12, p. 1173. doi: 10.1016/S0892-6875(02)00265-0
[29]	G. Senanayake, A surface adsorption/reaction mechanism for gold oxidation by copper(II) in ammoniacal thiosulfate solutions, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 286(2005), No. 1, p. 253. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2004.12.041
[30]	E.A. Nicol, J.Y. Baron, J. Mirza, J.J. Leitch, Y. Choi, and J. Lipkowski, Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies of the passive layer formation in gold leaching from thiosulfate solutions in the presence of cupric ion, J. Solid State Electrochem., 18(2014), No. 5, p. 1469. doi: 10.1007/s10008-013-2320-z
[31]	P.I. Breuer and M.I. Jeffrey, The reduction of copper(II) and the oxidation of thiosulfate and oxysulfur anions in gold leaching solutions, Hydrometallurgy, 70(2003), No. 1-3, p. 163. doi: 10.1016/S0304-386X(03)00078-1
[32]	G. Senanayake, The role of ligands and oxidants in thiosulfate leaching of gold, Gold Bull., 38(2005), No. 4, p. 170. doi: 10.1007/BF03215257
[33]	G.C. Zhu, Z.H. Fang, and J.Y. Chen, Electrochemical studies on the mechanism of gold dissolution in thiosulfate solutions, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 4(1994), No. 1, p. 50.
[34]	P.L. Breuer and M.I. Jeffrey, Thiosulfate leaching kinetics of gold in the presence of copper and ammonia, Miner. Eng., 13(2000), No. 10-11, p. 1071. doi: 10.1016/S0892-6875(00)00091-1
[35]	D. Feng and J.S.J. van Deventer, The role of heavy metal ions in gold dissolution in the ammoniacal thiosulphate system, Hydrometallurgy, 64(2002), No. 3, p. 231. doi: 10.1016/S0304-386X(02)00046-4
[36]	M.I. Jeffrey, Kinetic aspects of gold and silver leaching in ammonia–thiosulfate solutions, Hydrometallurgy, 60(2001), No. 1, p. 7. doi: 10.1016/S0304-386X(00)00151-1
[37]	M.G. Aylmore, Treatment of a refractory gold‒copper sulfide concentrate by copper ammoniacal thiosulfate leaching, Miner. Eng., 14(2001), No. 6, p. 615. doi: 10.1016/S0892-6875(01)00057-7
[38]	X.M. Zhang, G. Senanayake, and M.J. Nicol, A study of the gold colloid dissolution kinetics in oxygenated ammoniacal thiosulfate solutions, Hydrometallurgy, 74(2004), No. 3-4, p. 243. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2004.05.007
[39]	M.G. Aylmore, Alternative lixiviants to cyanide for leaching gold ores, [in] M.D. Adams, ed., Gold Ore Processing: Project Development and Operations, 2nd ed., Singapore, 2016, p. 447.
[40]	C.K. Chu, P.L. Breuer, and M.I. Jeffrey, The impact of thiosulfate oxidation products on the oxidation of gold in ammonia thiosulfate solutions, Miner. Eng., 16(2003), No. 3, p. 265. doi: 10.1016/S0892-6875(02)00369-2
[41]	X.M. Zhang and G. Senanayake, A review of ammoniacal thiosulfate leaching of gold : An update useful for further research in non-cyanide gold lixiviants, Miner. Process. Extr. Metall. Rev., 37(2016), No. 6, p. 385. doi: 10.1080/08827508.2016.1218872
[42]	R.Y. Wan, Importance of solution chemistry for thiosulphate leaching of gold, World Gold, 97(1997), p. 159.