International Journal of Mechanical and Production

Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD)

ISSN(P): 2249-6890; ISSN(E): 2249-8001
Vol. 9, Issue 3, Jun 2019, 1689-1694
© TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

COMPARISON OF METHODS OF PROCESSING THE GOLD -

CONTAINING REFRACTORY CONCENTRATES

ANNA E. KOZLOVSKAYA1, LARISA YU. SABURBAEVA2

& YURI V. ANDREEV3
1
LLC «Technolit», Saint-Petersburg, Russia
2
SP ZAO IVS, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
3
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
ABSTRACT

Persistent ores, which are characterized by insufficient gold recovery under traditional conditions of cyanide
leaching, occupy a prominent place in resource base of the modern gold mining industry. Gold in such ores is in a state
of fine dispersion in sulfide minerals, most often in pyrite and arsenopyrite. Refining refractory gold ores to enhance
extraction at cyanidation involves pretreatment. Traditional technologies for extraction of gold from sulfide refractory
ores include flotation concentration, roasting and subsequent calcification of the calcine. However, the use of roasting is
characterized by inevitable environmental pollution through gaseous emissions of arsenic and sulfur, the need for

Original Article
disposal of highly toxic arsenic trioxide and insufficiently high through-flow gold extraction in the technology. To date,
the most environmentally friendly, highly profitable and fairly widely used ways in production practice technologies for
processing refractory gold-bearing raw materials are: bacterial and autoclave oxidation. Experimental studies of the
process of direct cyanidation of gold-containing flotation concentrate, as well as products of its preliminary oxidation
using various methods (calcination of oxidative roasting, autoclave kecks (POX) and bacterial leaching (BIOX)) gave the
following results: Cyanidation of the initial flotation concentrate provides for the extraction of Au 46.6%; the use of
oxidative roasting leads to an increase in extraction of gold from 46.6% to 85%; the use of BIOX technology allows to
increase the extraction of gold to 91.74%; preliminary autoclave oxidative leaching of flotation concentrate provides a
stably high recovery of Au with subsequent cyanidation - at the level of 94.9 - 96.5%.

The introduction of autoclave and biological oxidation is an important element in the intensification of
technological processes, improving the industrial safety of gold processing enterprises and improving working conditions
of production personnel.

KEYWORDS: Gold, Refractory Gold-Bearing Concentrate, Autoclave Oxidation, Bacterial Oxidation, Roasting, Arsenic
& Sorption Cyanidation

Received: Mar 19, 2019; Accepted: Apr 10, 2019; Published: Jun 11, 2019; Paper Id.: IJMPERDJUN2019179

1. INTRODUCTION

Currently, the share of metal extracted from technologically simple ores is steadily decreasing, which
determined involvement in the processing of refractory ores [1-7]. According to expert estimates, up to 80% of all
gold resources in Russia are concentrated in refractory ores containing finely disseminated gold and silver in
sulfides, mainly in pyrites and arsenopyrite.

www.tjprc.org SCOPUS Indexed Journal editor@tjprc.org

1690 Anna E. Kozlovskaya, Larisa Yu. Saburbaeva
& Yuri V. Andreev

The resistant category includes ores, processing of which by direct cyanidation does not provide the required gold
recovery. The most common cause of persistence is the fine impregnation of gold into ore-forming sulfide minerals,
mainly in pyrite (FeS2) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS), which have a dense structure, which in turn makes gold inaccessible to
cyanide solutions at cyanidation redistribution [8]. As a result, cyanidation is either not possible at all or is characterized by
low recovery rates. Therefore, to achieve high recovery of gold from refractory ores and concentrates at the cyanidation
stage, their preliminary preparation is necessary, which consists in the destruction of the sulfide matrix, namely, in the
oxidation of sulfides. The most common methods of oxidation are: oxidative roasting, bacterial oxidation and autoclave
oxidation [9-16].

The most important problem in processing of refractory gold-bearing pyrite-arsenopyrite materials is the removal,
neutralization and disposal of highly toxic arsenic. The MPC of arsenic in the air of working area is 0.01 mg / m3, and the
MPC of arsenic in wastewater is 0.05 mg / dm3.

Oxidizing roasting followed by cyanidation of calcine is one of the most common methods for processing sulfide
gold-containing concentrates. During oxidative roasting, gold-containing sulfides oxidize and turn into a porous mass of
oxides that is well permeable to cyanide solutions. The firing method is quite simple, well mastered and is still used in
Canada, South Africa, Australia and other countries. However, the use of roasting is characterized by inevitable
environmental pollution by gaseous emissions of arsenic and sulfur, the need for burial of highly toxic arsenic trioxide, and
the formation of low-melting compounds films during the burning process and the removal of gold into arsenic sublimates
reduce gold extraction in technology [8-11].

To date, the most promising from an economic and environmental point of view, and quite widely used in
production practice technologies for processing refractory gold-bearing raw materials are: bacterial (BIOX) and autoclave
(POX) oxidation [12-16]. The advantages of these technologies are the absence of any toxic gaseous emissions, the
removal of arsenic from technologies in the form of low-toxic arsenate of iron and compared to roasting, a higher
extraction of gold at the stage of cyanidation [17-18].

2. RESEARCH METHODS

In this paper, we consider four options for processing refractory flotation concentrate (table 1): direct cyanidation,
cyanidation of the cinder of oxidative roasting, autoclave kecks and bacterial leaching.

Table 1: The Chemical Composition of Samples Flotation Concentrate

Component Content% Component Content, %
Cu 0,081 K 2O 1,38
Pb 0,015 Sobs 21,5
Zn 0,052 Ss 19,8
Sb 0,070 Fegeneral 19,7
Hg 0,00048 Cgeneral 0,91
SiO2 27,6 Corg 0,12
Al2O3 8,18 As 7,20
CaO 2,28 Au, g / T 55,4
MgO 1,16 Ag, g / T 11,6
Na2O 1,14

The mineral composition of the concentrate consists of 50.2% of pyrite sulfide minerals (35.5%) and arsenopyrite
(14.7%). A microanalyzer of pyrites showed the presence of arsenic species with an as content in them from 0.7 to 5.1%.

Impact Factor (JCC): 7.6197 SCOPUS Indexed Journal NAAS Rating: 3.11
Comparison of Methods of Processing the Gold - Containing Refractory Concentrates 1691

3. RESEARCH RESULTS

It has been established that direct cyanidation of a concentrate with a particle size of 66% of the class of -0.071
mm makes it possible to achieve extraction of Au into a solution in the range of 38.81 - 46.57%. Pre-grinding the flotation
concentrate to 100% of the -0.020 mm class leads to an increase in gold recovery during cyanidation to 56% (table 2).

Table 2: Investigation of the Effect of Composition of Flotation

Concentrate on the Extraction of Gold during Cyanidation
Au Content Consumption, kg / t Au Content in Solid, g / t
Cipher Output Extract
in Solution, Before After
Experience NaCN CaO Kek, % Au, %
mg / l Cyanation Cyanidation
Cyanization of the Flotation Concentrate of the Initial Size
FB-3 6,6 5,4 0,9 100 55,4 29,6 46,57
FB-4 6,3 5,4 0,75 100 55,4 33,9 38,81
Cyanide Crushed Flotation Concentrate
FB-6 7,23 7,8 1,3 97,6 55,4 24,9 56,15
FB-7 7,53 7,6 1,1 99,47 55,4 24,5 56,01
FB-9 8,2 6,5 0,7 98,4 55,4 24,6 56,32

The use of oxidative roasting can increase the extraction of gold from the flotation concentrate from 46.6% to
85%. The preliminary mechanical activation of the calcine gives an increase in the extraction of gold (regarding the
cyanidation of the calcine without mechanical activation): by 6.5% -when grinding within 3 minutes, by 10%- when
grinding within 20 minutes. Mechanical activation of the calcine for 20 minutes leads to ultrafine grinding of the product,
as a result of which the surface of interaction of the particles with the leaching agent increases sharply and the specific
cyanide consumption increases 3.6 times: from 10.6 kg / t to 38 kg / t (Table 3). The degree of deracemization during firing
was 92%.

Table 3: Investigation the Effect of Preliminary Roasting of a Flotation Concentrate

and Mechanical Activation of the Calcine, Obtained on Extraction
of Gold into the Solution during Subsequent Cyanidation
Consumption, Keck Extract
Au Content in Au Content, g / t
Cipher kg / t exit, % Au, %
Leach Solution,
Experience Before After
mg / l NaCN CaO
Cyanation Cyanidation
Cyanization of Cinder without Preliminary Mechanical Activation
BES-compress-1 14,8 10 12 99,7 67,13 11,27 83,27
BES-compress-2 16,3 11,1 13,2 99 67,13 9,14 86,52
Cyanization of the Cinder with Pre-Mechanical Activation for 3 Minutes
FB-11 13,1 15 17,6 89,1 67,13 6,43 91,46
Cyanization of Cinder with Preliminary Mechanical Activation for 20 Minutes
Fb (o) -1 14,1 39,9 11,9 91,5 67,13 2,93 96,01
Fb (o) -2 14,3 36,1 11,7 92 67,13 3,82 94,76

Studies of the effect of autoclave oxidation of a flotation concentrate on the extraction of gold into solution during
subsequent cyanidation showed that during cyanidation of AOW kecks obtained by varying the opening temperature of the
flotation concentrate in the range of 200-225 С, there is a consistently high gold recovery: at 94.91 - 96, 47%. At the same
time, the specific consumption of cyanide and lime is at the level, kg/t: 17.8 - 25.1; 6.2 - 7.1, respectively. The minimum
consumption of sodium cyanide corresponds to the leaching of gold from the AOW keck obtained at a temperature of 200 °
C; however, under these conditions, the process lasts 90 minutes, and at a temperature of 225 ° C - 30 minutes.

www.tjprc.org SCOPUS Indexed Journal editor@tjprc.org

1692 Anna E. Kozlovskaya, Larisa Yu. Saburbaeva
& Yuri V. Andreev

Table 4: Main results of Cyanidation of AOB Kecks

Consumption,
Cipher Output Au Content, g / t Extract
kg / t
Experience Keck, % Au, %
NaCN CaO Before Cyanation After Cyanidation
BES-1 25,1 6,9 95,9 86,39 4,29 95,24
BES-2 23,3 7,0 96,8 88,44 4,26 95,34
BES-3 17,8 7,1 99,0 83,52 4,51 94,65
BES-4 21,4 6,5 97,4 83,76 4,38 94,91
BES-5 19,4 6,2 97,2 80,32 2,92 96,47
BES-6 19,6 6,2 97,1 80,85 3,59 95,69

As a result of autoclave oxidation of sulfide arsenic material, significant volumes of technological solutions are
formed, containing high concentrations of arsenic, iron and sulfuric acid. To efficiently precipitate arsenic from autoclave
solutions, it is necessary to conduct their high-temperature, staggered neutralization, which allows arsenic to be converted
to stable iron arsenates during long-term storage.

Experiments on the bio-oxidation of sulfide concentrate were performed in collaboration with the Institute of
Microbiology, Vinogradsky. With different technological parameters (modes 1 and 2), two batches of bio-kecks were
developed:

• batch 1 (mode 1)– W: Т = 6,7, oxidation time - 5 day., t=40 °C;

• batch 2 (mode 2) – W: T = 5, oxidation time - 5 day., t=40 °C.

The degree of oxidation of sulfide sulfur is: 68% for Bishkek-1, 50% for Biokek-2, and the degree of
dearsenization - 56%, 45%, respectively. It was revealed that the preliminary bio oxidation of the flotation concentrate
allows to increase the extraction of gold during subsequent cyanidation to 91.74% (Table 5).

Table 5: Results of Cyanidation of Flotation Concentrate Bio-Oxidation Kecks

Cipher Consumption, kg / t Output Au Content, g / t Extract. Au,
Experience NaCN CaO Keck, % Before Cyanation After Cyanidation %
24 Часа
BioB1-1 26 12,4 97,5 55,17 4,65 91,74
BioB2-1 29,4 14,7 94,6 57,2 7,43 88,08

Arsenic, as the previous case, is removed from bio oxidation solutions in the form of iron arsenate that is stable
during long-term storage by neutralization.

4. CONCLUSIONS

The use of hydrometallurgical technologies for processing refractory pyrite-arsenopyrite gold-bearing

concentrates is characterized by high gold recovery at the cyanidation stage, absence of any toxic gaseous emissions and
removal of arsenic from the technological cycle in the form of low-toxic iron arsenate.

Impact Factor (JCC): 7.6197 SCOPUS Indexed Journal NAAS Rating: 3.11
Comparison of Methods of Processing the Gold - Containing Refractory Concentrates 1693

REFERENCES

1. Brebbia C., Connor J.J., Newkirk J.W., Popov A.A., Zhilin A.S. Progress in Materials Science and Engineering. Springer,
2018. 203 p.

2. Petrov G.V., Fokina S.B. Simultaneous extraction of selenium from indermediate products of extraction reprocessing of
washing acid of copper production. Indian Journal of Science and Technology. 2016. Vol. 9. No. 18. 7 p.

3. Zhmurova V.V., Nemchinova N.V., Mineev G.G. Utilization of Dust from Silicon Production. Tsvetnye Metally. No. 7. 2017,
pp. 41-46.

4. Szoka, A. N. N. A., Gajowiec, G., Serbinski, W. A. L. D. E. M. A. R., & Zielinski, A. N. D. R. Z. E. J. (2016). Effect of surface
state and stress on an oxidation of the zircaloy-2 alloy. Intl J Manag Inform Techn Eng, 4, 55-64.

5. Melnichuk M.S., Petrov G.V., Fokina S.B., Zotova I.E. Enhancing optimal performance of the platinum concentrates by
reduction sulfuric acid. Acta Technica CSAV (Ceskoslovensk Akademie Ved). 2018. Vol. 63. No. 3. pp.467-474.

6. Melnichuk M.S., Fokina S.B., Boduen A.Ya., Petrov G.V. Co-recovery of platinum-group metals and chrome in processing of
low-grade dunite ore material. Obogashchenie Rud. 2018. No. 1. pp. 50-55.

7. Bocharov V.A., Ignatkina V.A., Lapshina G.A., Khachatryan L.S. Development of technology of complex processing of
refractory pyrite polymetallic ores of Non-ferrous metals. Tsvetnye Metally. 2018. No. 4. pp. 27-34.

8. Petrov G.V., Boduen A.Ya., Ivanov B.S., Serebryakov M.A. Investigation of ammonia autoclave leaching of silver and rhenium
containing ill-conditioned copper concentrate. Tsvetnye Metally. 2016. No. 10. pp. 23-28.

9. Adams M.D. (ed.) Advances in gold ore processing. Elsevier Science, 2005. 1076 p.

10. Chekushin V.S., Oleynikova N.V. Pererabotka zolotosoderzhashchikh rudnykh kontsentratov (obzor metodov) [Processing of
gold ore concentrates (overview of methods)]. Izvestiya Chelyabinskogo nauchnogo tsentra. 2005. Vol. 4. No. 30. pp. 94-110.

11. Fraser K.S., Walton R.H., Wells J.A. Processing of refractory gold ores. Minerals Engineering. 1991. Vol. 4. No. 7-11. pp.
1029-1041.

12. Yannopoulos J.C. Treatment of Refractory Gold Ores. In: The Extractive Metallurgy of Gold. Springer, Boston, MA. 1991,
pp. 79-114.

13. Boduen A.Y., Fokina S.B., Polezhaev S.Y. The hydrometallurgical pretreatment of a refractory gold sulfide concentrate.
Innovation-Based Development of the Mineral Resources Sector: Challenges and Prospects - 11th conference of the Russian-
German Raw Materials, 7-8 November 2018. 2019. pp. 331-340.

14. Rusalev R.E., Rogozhnikov D.A., Naboichenko S.S. Investigation of complex treatment of the gold-bearing antimony flotation
concentrate. 4th International Conference on Industrial Engineering, ICIE 2018, Moscow, Russian Federation, 15-18 May
2018. Vol. 284. 2018. pp. 863-869.

15. Epiforov A.V., et al. Heap Biooxidation of Gold-Sulphide and Polymetallic Ores and Tailings. Solid State Phenomena. 2017.
Vol. 262. pp.122-125.

16. Bulaev A.G., Kanaeva Z.K., Kanaev A.T., Kondrat’eva T.F. Biooxidation of a double-refractory gold-bearing sulfide ore
concentrate. Mikrobiologiya. 2015. Vol. 84. No. 5. pp. 561-569.

www.tjprc.org SCOPUS Indexed Journal editor@tjprc.org

1694 Anna E. Kozlovskaya, Larisa Yu. Saburbaeva
& Yuri V. Andreev

17. Lauri R., Jari A., Olof F. Pressure oxidation of pyritearsenopyrite refractory gold concentrate. Physicochem. Probl. Miner.
Process. 2013. Vol. 49. pp. 101-109.

18. Petrov G.V., Fokina S.B., Boduen A.Y., Zotova I.E., Fidarov B.F. Arsenic behavior in the autoclave-hydrometallurgical
processing of refractory sulfide gold-platinum-bearing products. International Journal of Engineering and Technology (UAE).
2018. Vol. 7. No. 2. pp. 35-39.

19. Bin X., Yongbin Y., Qian L., Tao J., Shiqian L., Guanghui L. The development of an environmentally friendly leaching process
of a high C, As and Sb bearing sulfide gold concentrate. Miner. Eng. 2016. Vol. 89. pp. 138-147.

Impact Factor (JCC): 7.6197 SCOPUS Indexed Journal NAAS Rating: 3.11