LLC Institute TOMS (Irkutsk, Russia)
А. Е. Senchenko, General Director, Candidate of Technical Sciences, senchenko@tomsmineral.ru
S. G. Rybkin, Senior Reseacher, Candidate of Technical Sciences, rybkin@tomsmineral.ru
LLC Institute TOMS (Irkutsk, Russia)1 ; Irkutsk National Research Technical University (Irkutsk, Russia)2
А. V. Аksyonov, Head of the Laboratory of Metallurgy1, Associate Professor at the Department of Non-Ferrous Metallurgy2, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, aksenov@tomsmineral.ru
A. A. Vasiliev, Leading Researcher1, Associate Professor at the Department of Non-Ferrous Metallurgy2, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, vasiliev@tomsmineral.ru
D. V. Okoneshnikov, Senior Reseacher1, Lecturer2, okoneshnikov@tomsmineral.ru
The technology for processing gold-bearing concentrates based on arsenatizing roasting followed by cyanide leaching of the calcine is highly effective for the recovery of precious metals from refractory concentrates with high contents of sulfides and ore carbonaceous matter. Arsenatizing roasting of refractory goldbearing concentrates is characterized by a high process rate, complete burnout of carbonaceous matter, conversion of sulfur and arsenic into chemically inert forms, and minimal emission of hazardous substances into the gas phase. Experimental tests of the arsenatizing roasting process have been carried out using a refractory gold-bearing flotation concentrate in a rotary furnace with indirect electric heating. The behavior of arsenic during roasting and subsequent cyanide leaching of the resulting calcine has also been investigated. The tests have shown that the optimal method for preparing the charge, consisting of the concentrate, lime, and calcium chloride, is extrusion briquetting, which ensures minimal dust carryover and close contact between the charge components. The pilot furnace throughput for roasting the granulated charge has reached 4.0–4.5 kg/h, with the charge remaining in the reaction zone at a temperature of approximately 650°C for 50–60 min. Material dust carryover has been 0.43% and 3.0% at gas flow velocities in the furnace drum of 0.34 and 1.0 m/s, respectively. Gold recovery during sorption cyanidation of the calcine has been 81.6–83.3%, while the arsenic concentration in the liquid phase of the cyanidation tailings has been 0.5–3.0 mg/dm3. The increase in gold recovery compared with cyanidation of the initial flotation concentrate has been 32.25%. The results have demonstrated that arsenatizing roasting of refractory gold-bearing concentrates enables arsenic to be converted into the stable form of calcium arsenate, Ca3(AsO4)2, which has low water solubility. This creates favorable conditions for the safe disposal of cyanidation waste generated from the resulting calcine.
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