ACETIC ACID APPLICATION AS AN ACTIVATING REAGENT IN THE INTENSIVE CYANIDATION OF GRAVITY CONCENTRATES

Abstract

The well-known technology of intensive cyanide leaching of gravity concentrates, which allows to bring part of gold into commercial products with obtaining high-purity Dore alloy, requires the use of expensive reagents and high temperature (80 °С) leaching. Studies have been carried out on intensive leaching of gold-containing gravity concentrate in a drum-type apparatus at low concentrations of sodium cyanide with the addition of a new reagent-activator. It is proposed to conduct intensive cyanidation of enriched gravity concentrate using acetic acid as an effective activator reagent. Improving the efficiency of cyanide leaching by introducing activators into the reagent system is achieved by dissolving passivating films on the surface of gold grains. Studies on the intensive leaching of gold in the enlarged laboratory tests. The results of the large-scale laboratory tests on the intensive cyanide leaching of the gravity concentrate using acetic acid as an activating agent activator were fully confirmed by the data of laboratory studies.