Abstract: The objective of the work reported in this paper is to propose ways of improving the recovery on a low grade gold ore. To date, no work on optimizing this particular ore has been done in order to improve the recovery. Five size fractions used in the leaching tests reveal that recovery is a function of operational parameters. The optimum values for these parameters that gave a maximum recovery were: particle size (-150 + 75 µm) concentration of the lixiviant (210 ppm), temperature (85oC) and mixing speed (900 rpm). We then applied the shrinking core model and ash layer diffusion is the slowest step. An empirical model was then proposed to predict the leaching behaviour of the gold ore. A value of 12, 9 kJ /mol was obtained for Activation Energy (Ea) which is consistent with some results from leading researchers.
Keywords: Gold, Cyanidation, Process Optimization, Shrinking core Model.
Title: Optimisation of the Leaching Parameters of a Gold Ore in Sodium Cyanide Solution
Author: Nkosikhona Hlabangana, Siboniwe Bhebhe, Nonhlanhla G. Mguni, Gwiranai Danha, Joel Tshuma
International Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews
ISSN 2348-697X (Online)
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