Assessing a two-stage heap leaching process for Platreef flotation concentrate

This research work has developed a processing technology for full oxidation of the biocake from gold-arsenic flotation concentrate with high pyrrhotite content by neutrophilic association of microorganisms, which oxidize elemental sulphur and antimony sulphide at a high rate. Biocake, which is produced as a result of oxidizing the sulphides in the flotation concentrate at pH 1,7 – 1,9 by acidophilic bacteria of chemolithotrophic microorganisms and containing around 3%-5% of elemental sulphur, is then fully oxidized by association of neutrophilic bacteria at рН 7,0-8,0.

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A Decision Support System for Changes in Operation Modes of the Copper Heap Leaching Process

Metals ◽

10.3390/met11071025 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1025

Author(s):

Manuel Saldaña ◽

Purísima Neira ◽

Víctor Flores ◽

Pedro Robles ◽

Carlos Moraga

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Decision Support ◽

Decision Support System ◽

Support System ◽

Operating Mode ◽

Heap Leaching ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Leaching Process ◽

Operation Rules ◽

Copper Heap Leaching

Chilean mining is one of the main productive industries in the country. It plays a critical role in the development of Chile, so process planning is an essential task in achieving high performance. This task involves considering mineral resources and operating conditions to provide an optimal and realistic copper extraction and processing strategy. Performing planning modes of operation requires a significant effort in information generation, analysis, and design. Once the operating mode plans have been made, it is essential to select the most appropriate one. In this context, an intelligent system that supports the planning and decision-making of the operating mode has the potential to improve the copper industry’s performance. In this work, a knowledge-based decision support system for managing the operating mode of the copper heap leaching process is presented. The domain was modeled using an ontology. The interdependence between the variables was encapsulated using a set of operation rules defined by experts in the domain and the process dynamics was modeled utilizing an inference engine (adjusted with data of the mineral feeding and operation rules coded) used to predict (through phenomenological models) the possible consequences of variations in mineral feeding. The work shows an intelligent approach to integrate and process operational data in mining sites, being a novel way to contribute to the decision-making process in complex environments.

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A Brief Note on the Heap Leaching Technologies for the Recovery of Valuable Metals

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11123347 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 3347 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Thriveni Thenepalli ◽

Ramakrishna Chilakala ◽

Lulit Habte ◽

Lai Quang Tuan ◽

Chun Sik Kim

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Precious Metals ◽

Heap Leaching ◽

Green Energy ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Energy Applications ◽

Leaching Process ◽

Attractive Option ◽

Industrial Mining ◽

The Cost

Heap leaching is a low-cost technology used in industrial mining to recover precious metals such as gold and uranium, along with several other highly sought after metals like copper, from their primary resources (ores and minerals). For many decades, there has been a growing demand for heap leaching due to its environmental benefits. Heap leaching provides mining operators with a benign, effective and economical solution for the environment and produces only minor emissions from furnaces. The cost of the heap leaching process is low, making this process an attractive option from a financial standpoint. Here, we shall present a brief review of the heap leaching process when applied to the extraction of different metals from primary resources (ores and minerals). This paper presents a roadmap to satisfy future national demands for rare earth elements (REEs). This heap leaching process is applicable for the recovery of REEs from secondary resources such as mining and coal residues. Heap leaching plays a significant role in the recovery of critical elements which are used in clean and green energy applications. In the mining sector, heap leaching is a distinguished method for the recovery of valuable/beneficial metals from low-quality ore. In the present study, we shall report briefly on the heap leaching technologies for valuable metal recovery with economic advantages.

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Recovering Gold from a Gold-Bearing Pyrite by Flotation and Chemical Process

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.610-613.81 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 610-613 ◽

pp. 81-85

Author(s):

Qing Li ◽

Bao Liang Ge ◽

Jie Liu ◽

Chao Zhu

Keyword(s):

Chemical Process ◽

Adsorption Rate ◽

Leaching Rate ◽

Cyanide Leaching ◽

Gold Leaching ◽

Flotation Concentrate ◽

Leaching Process ◽

Roasting Process ◽

Gold Bearing

The ore assays 2.5g/t Au, 23.4% S and 56.6% Fe. This research enriched the gold by flotation, and recovered it by a chemical process. The obtained flotation concentrate contains 66.35%g/t gold and 37.06% S with recovery 96.14% and 96.42% respectively. A roasting process was conducted at 900-1000°C for 5.5hrs, followed by cyanide leaching of the residue. The gold leaching rate reaches 87.4% with an adsorption rate of 97.6%. Furthermore, the regrinding of the concentrate to 95% -0.18μm was conducted, and followed by cyanide leaching at pH11.5 for 12hrs. The results show the amount leached gold reaches 92.5% with an adsorption rate of 99.21%, which increases by 1.61% and 5.1% in comparison with the roasting-leaching process.

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A mathematical model to simulate Heap (bio)-leaching process: An exact conceptual model, Homotopy theory and comparative insights with conventional methods

International Journal of Modeling Simulation and Scientific Computing ◽

10.1142/s1793962317500180 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 08 (01) ◽

pp. 1750018 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. Yaghobi Moghaddam ◽

S. Z. Shafaei Tonkaboni ◽

M. Noaparast ◽

F. Doulati Ardejani

Keyword(s):

Finite Volume Method ◽

Finite Volume ◽

Homotopy Theory ◽

Nonlinear Differential Equations ◽

Nonlinear Problems ◽

Heap Leaching ◽

Mineral Processing ◽

Process Efficiency ◽

Leaching Process ◽

Volume Method

This paper attempts to address some nonlinear differential equations which describe main mechanisms governing heap (bio) leaching process as an important metallurgical facility in mining and mineral processing industries. The Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM), Finite Volume Method and Analytical (Laplace) Method have been employed to provide proper solutions for these equations. Comparison was made between the methods and agreement was close; considering the fact that the proposed solution in comparison with the others provided a remarkable accuracy in dealing with nonlinear problems associated with mining and mineral processing industries. The maximum error of HPM in relation to the analytical solution was 0.02. The numerical finite volume method incorporating a computational fluid dynamics model termed PHOENICS provided rational and accurate results; describing that many chemical and biological processes extremely affect the transportation mechanism of the aqueous compounds in a heap structure and subsequently on the process efficiency. Besides, all solution methods presented to simulate heap leaching process provided valuable information related to the time dependence concentrations of dissolved compounds. The results obtained from this study can be effectively applied to manage the heap leaching costs to make the process feasible.

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