Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc.

China 25(2015) 3774−3783

Thermodynamic and kinetic of iodine−iodide leaching in gold hydrometallurgy

S. S. KONYRATBEKOVA1, A. BAIKONUROVA1, G. A. USSOLTSEVA1, C. ERUST2, A. AKCIL2

1. Mining and Smelting Institute after O.A. Baikonurov, Kazakh National Technical University named after K.I. Satpaev,
Satpaev Street, 22, Almaty 050013, Republic of Kazakhstan;
2. Mineral−Metal Recovery and Recycling Research Group, Mineral Processing Division,
Department of Mining Engineering, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta TR32260, Turkey
Received 1 November 2014; accepted 17 June 2015

Abstract: The thermodynamic equilibria and kinetic aspect of gold dissolution in iodine−iodide leaching were studied with emphasis
on the effects of pH value and temperature on the system. The results of thermodynamic analysis of iodine in aqueous solution were
given and numerous forms of iodine exist mainly in the acid region of pH values. An increase of the potential of the system results in
an increase of iodine speciation. The oxidizing potential of the system will increase by the addition of element iodine. The IO3−
anions are stable in the potential range from −2.0 to −0.75 V and at рН value greater than 12.1. An increase of the temperature shifts
boundaries of existence of various iodine species in the acid region of pH values. Some of them become unstable. The determined
values of the diffusion coefficients and the thickness of the diffusion boundary layer, as well as the solvent concentration on the disc
surface (14 mg/L) indicate that the process proceeds in the external diffusion region. Thus, while choosing the conditions of leaching
from gold-containing materials of different origins of iodide solvents, it is necessary to carry out the process within the acidic region
of pH values, where I−, I3− and IO4− ions are capable to form complex compounds with metals.
Key words: gold; hydrometallurgy; iodine−iodide leaching; non-cyanide lixiviants

chemolithotrophic microorganisms, which oxidizes the

1 Introduction gold-bearing sulfidic minerals, mainly pyrite and
arsenopyrite, thereby liberating gold and silver from the
Hydrometallurgical process has been utilized more sulfide matrix. The liberated gold is then leached by
often than the pyro-metallurgical process because of its different methods, mainly by cyanidation [11−14].
ability of complex and low-grade ores extraction. Cyanide consumers include iron, copper, zinc, cobalt and
Pyro-metallurgical processing, including incineration and nickel ions, etc. [5]. It has also been reasoned that
smelting in a furnace or blast furnace at high cyanide consumption was related to the formation of iron
temperatures, has become a traditional method to recover and arsenic precipitates during biooxidation and their
gold from ores and electronic wastes in the past two subsequent carry-over to cyanidation [15]. Moreover,
decades [1]. Compared with these processes, the KOMNITSAS and POOLEY [11] suggested that high
hydrometallurgical method is more exact and cyanide consumption was related to the formation and
predictable, and more easily controlled [2]. Gold has precipitation of iron and silver jarosites, particularly at
mostly been leached out from ores, secondary sources low pulp densities. Considering the increase of recent
and gold-containing spent materials by cyanidation [3−6]. environmental accidents at various gold recovery
Biooxidation of refractory gold-bearing arsenopyrite/ processes around the world causes severe contamination
pyrite concentrates as a pretreatment step prior to of natural water resources over the use of cyanide as a
cyanidation has already been proved to be an lixiviant. Many leaching agents are used to overcome
economically viable and competitive process with this serious issue [16]. The application of alternative
reduced environmental impact and lower capital lixiviants, such as thiourea, chloride, bromide, iodine
costs [7−10]. Pretreatment of ores and concentrates via and ammonium thiosulfate, for gold recovery has
biooxidation process is achieved by acidophilic been extensively researched in the last few years. These

Corresponding author: A. AKCIL; Tel: +90-246-2111321; E-mail: ataakcil@sdu.edu.tr

DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(15)63980-2
 S. S. KONYRATBEKOVA, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 25(2015) 3774−3783 3775
lixiviants would be particularly attractive if they improve are 1.6×10¯23 and 1×10¯46, respectively. Upon the
the gold recovery or result in savings in reagent introduction of potassium iodide (iodide ion) into a
cost [17]. It can be seen from the discussed literature solution, the solubility of AuI increases because of the
data that halogenide leaching of gold, and in particular formation of a complex ion, AuI2 [30]. The relevant
iodide leaching, from gold-containing materials is an reactions are shown below along with their
alternative to the cyanidation process [18,19]. Ideally, the thermodynamic data [31,32]:
lixiviant should be cheap or recyclable, selective,
I2(aq)+I−→I3−, K=714 (1)
nontoxic and compatible with downstream recovery
− −
processes [20]. In practice, meeting all these criteria is I3 +2e→3I , φ=0.536 V (2)
difficult [21]. The formed various complexes with AuI2−+e→Au+2I−, φ=0.578 V (3)
chloride, bromide and iodide and the stability of formed
complex I¯> Br¯> Cl¯ were determined depending on the where K is the equilibrium constant, φ is the potential
ambient conditions [22,23]. The use of a solution with respect to standard hydrogen electrode (SHE).
containing iodine–iodide as a lixiviant for gold was The rate of gold dissolution in iodine–iodide
initially reported in various studies for recovering gold. solutions was found to be unaffected by pH value over
Later fundamental studies on this leaching system have wide ranges of 2−7 [27] and 2−10 [25]. Recently, in situ
been carried out by a number of researchers [24−29]. It is or in place leaching has been proposed as a method for
understood that, under general conditions, iodine the extraction of gold from stranded oxidised resources
dissolves in the presence of iodide to form triiodide ion, which cannot be mined economically using conventional
which acts as the oxidant for the oxidation of element technologies [33], and preliminary laboratory work using
gold to gold(I)–iodide complex. Gold(I, III) also forms iodine−iodide as one of the lixiviant systems has
with iodide ions binary (AuI, AuI3) and complex returned very promising results [34].
compounds (M[AuI2], M[AuI4]). The solubility products The studies on gold recovery with solution of
of gold iodide (AuI) and gold triiodide (AuI3) in water iodine−iodide are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1 Research and development works on iodine−iodide leaching

Source of waste Conditions and applied method Recovery Reference

The iodine concentration is 1.1%, the H2O2 concentration

Printed circuit boards is 1.5%, the leaching time is 4 h, the solid/liquid (S/L) ratio 97.5% Au [35]
is 1:10, the temperature is 25 °C, the pH value is 7.
The iodine concentration in anode solution is 0.1%−0.8%,
the mole ratio of I2 to I− is 1:10, the cell voltage is 10−14 V,
Printed circuit boards >95% Au [36]
the gold concentration in cathode solution is 15−50 mg/L and
the electrolyzing time is 1−4 h.
Printed circuit boards of 95.27% Cu,
Sulfuric acid−hydrogen peroxide and iodine (SAHPI) leaching [37]
waste mobile phone 93.4% Au
−
In 1L solution of 0.1 mol/L I and 0.005 mol/L I2, the leaching time is 5 h,
the temperature is 22 °C. A reductive elution process is required to elude
Pregnant solutions the iodine from the resin. A solution containing 2 mol/L NaCl and 97% Au [34]
0.3 mol/L Na2SO3 is found to be highly effective for
the elution of both gold and iodine.
In a solution of 2 mmol/L I3¯ and 16 mmol I¯ with the
Gold ores 75%−97% Au [38]
samples taken from the four gold ore deposits in Australia.
In a solution containing 20 g/L iodide and
Gold ores 89% Au [39]
4 g/L iodine leaching for 24 h

The optimum process conditions at 25 °C are shown as follows:

the initial iodine concentration is 1.0%, the mole ratio of iodine to
Flotation gold
iodide is 1:8, the solution pH value is 7, the S/L ratio >85% Au [40]
concentrates
is 4:1, the leaching time is 4 h, the stirring intensity is 200 r/min,
and the hydrogen peroxide consumption is 1%.

The initial iodine concentration is 1%, the molar ratio of

iodine to iodide is 1:8, the pH value is 7, the S/L ratio is 4:1,
Gold concentrates 90% Au [41]
the stirring speed is 600 r/min, the leaching time is 4 h and
the temperature is 25 °C
3776 S. S. KONYRATBEKOVA, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 25(2015) 3774−3783
assess possible reactions for gold dissolution in different
2 Experimental solvents used extensively for this purpose. The analysis
was carried out with the aid of the HSC Chemistry 5.11
2.1 Material software program for thermodynamic calculations
The eltra electronic scrap consists of 0.45% Au, developed by the Outokumpu Technology Engineering
0.008% Fe, 35.2% Zn, 63% Cu, 0.0002% Ag, 0.0054% Research Stainless Steel Copper Zinc Metals. The results
Mn, 1.154% Ni, 0.05% Sn, 0.002% As, 0.008% Bi, of kinetics studies of gold dissolution in iodide solutions
0.0016% Ga, 0.0007% Co and 0.002% Cr. The low- using the rotating disc method were presented.
frequency rectangular connectors consists of 2.22% Au,
0.075% Ag, 0.007% As, 0.6% Ni, 7.5% Sn, 0.78% Bi, 3 Results and discussion
49% Cu, 0.39% Fe and 30% Zn. The thickness of the
gold covering is 24 µm. 3.1 Thermodynamic conditions for gold recovery
from gold-containing materials with iodide
2.2 Methods solutions
The leaching of the raw materials was carried out at The thermodynamic calculations developed by the
room temperature in a heat-resistant glass flask of 0.2 L. Outokumpu Technology Engineering Research Stainless
The polyions solute was added with stirring to the flask Steel Copper Zinc Metals are given in Table 2.
with the portion of gold material (the S/L ratio is 1:10 or The leaching of gold-containing materials with
1:5, the pH value is 3, the particle size is ~150 μm and cyanides and bromides becomes thermodynamically
the time is 45 min). Filtrate was analyzed for the feasible because soluble complex gold compounds
containing of gold. (NaAu(CN)2 and H(AuBr4)) are formed, and the
In order to provide thermodynamic substantiation of isobaric−isothermal potentials of Reactions (5) and (6)
leaching of gold-containing materials with iodide are negative and reach 99.1 and 943.4 kJ/mol,
solutions, a comparative analysis was undertaken to respectively.

Table 2 Isobaric-isothermal potentials of gold dissolution reactions with different complex-forming reagents and oxidants
273 K 293 K 313 K 333 K 353 K
Chemical reaction ΔGо/ ΔGо/ ΔGо/ ΔGо/ ΔGо/
lg K lg K lg K lg K lg K
( kJ·mol−1) ( kJ·mol−1) ( kJ·mol−1) ( kJ·mol−1) ( kJ·mol−1)
2Au+3Cl2+2HCl→2HAuCl4 (4) 840.5 −160.7 861.3 −153.5 882.7 −147.3 904.7 −141.8 927.1 −137.1
2Au+4NaCN+O2+2H2O→
(5) −99.1 18.9 −92.1 16.4 −84.9 14.2 −77.3 12.1 −69.2 10.3
2NaAu(CN)2+2NaOH+H2O2
5Au+20KBr+3KMnO4+29H→
(6) −943.4 180.4 −938.8 167.3 −913.4 155.4 −920.8 144.4 −907.3 134.2
5H[AuBr4]+3MnCl2+23KCl+12H2O
Au+HNO3+3HCl→
(7) 51.4 −9.8 46.2 −8.3 41.3 −6.9 36.5 −5.8 32.4 −4.8
AuCl3+NO↑+2H2O
2Au+2KI+I2+2HCl→
(8) −34.3 6.7 −33.8 6.1 −32.4 5.4 −30.5 4.8 −28.4 4.2
2H[AuI2]+2KCl

2NH2SO2OH+6KI+H2SO4+2Au→
(9) −349.8 66.9 −348.7 62.2 −348.9 58.2 −351.1 55.1 −355.2 52.5
2K[AuI2]+I2+2K2SO3+(NH4)2SO4

2NH2SO2OH+3KI+H2SO4→
(10) −245.5 46.6 −247.7 44.4 −251.4 42.0 −257.9 40.5 −266.2 39.4
K[I·I2]+K2SO4+(NH4)2SO4+SO2
2KI+I2+Au+H2SO4→
(11) −104.3 19.9 −101.1 18.0 −97.2 16.2 −93.2 14.6 −88.9 13.2
2H[AuI2]+K2SO4
5Au+5KI+KMnO4+8HCl→
(12) −510.9 88.8 −490.1 82.5 −493.3 76.9 −496.6 71.9 −500.7 67.5
5AuI++MnCl2+6KCl+4H2O

5Au+5KBr+KMnO4+8HCl→
(13) −231.6 44.3 −264.7 40.7 −266.8 37.7 −269.6 35.5 −272.9 32.6
5AuBr+ MnCl2+6KCl+4H2O

2Au+2KBr+Br2+2HCl→
(14) −30.9 5.9 −28.4 5.1 −25.5 4.3 −22.1 3.5 −18.2 2.3
2H[AuBr2]+ 2KCl

2Au+2KCl+Cl2+2HCl→
(15) −59.3 11.4 −60.5 10.8 −60.9 10.2 −60.8 9.3 −60.1 8.8
2H[AuCl2]+ 2KCl

4Au+8S2O32−+O2+2H2O→
(16) −34.3 6.7 −33.8 6.1 −32.4 5.4 −30.5 4.8 −28.4 4.2
4Au(S2O3)23−+4OH−
 S. S. KONYRATBEKOVA, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 25(2015) 3774−3783 3777
The use of oxidants (Cl2, Br2, I2 and KMnO4), along potential sufficient for gold dissolution (Table 3).
with iodide ion, increases significantly the probability of To summarize, an iodine−iodide system has a
dissolution (Reactions (11)−(15) in Table 2) of both gold number of advantages: lower toxicity, higher stability of
and metals sulfides, in particular iron sulfide. The results formed complexes and lower redox potential as
are in good agreement with the literature data [42,43], in compared with other non-cyanide leaching systems.
which the authors demonstrated the feasibility of gold The Gibbs energy of Reactions (9) and (12) is
dissolution with potassium iodide solutions in the significantly lower than zero, which indicates a
presence of an oxidant (H2О2, I2, OCI−). In a thermodynamic probability of these reactions even at
thermodynamic study of DAVIS et al [28], I3− was shown room temperature.
as the predominant oxidants species in both systems. The feasibility of the gold leaching process with
However, if the concentrations of OCl− and I− equal, the iodine-containing solutions at low temperatures can be
solid iodine forms. In these systems, iodide (I−) is used to confirmed in an indirect way with the aid of Pourbaix
form I3− which is responsible for the gold oxidation and diagrams showing the thermodynamically stable states of
more free iodide needed for the gold complexation is iodine in aqueous solutions within the iodine
destroyed in the I−−OCl− system than that in the I−−I2 concentrations studies, as well as the potentials and pH
system. The formation of solid AuI also explains the values of the medium. The phase diagrams of φ−pH
lower rate of gold dissolution determined for certain (Pourbaix diagrams) are given in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 for
conditions in the kinetic study. iodine-containing systems at 25, 50 and 80 °C,
BONDARENKO and KULIKOV [44] pointed out respectively.
good prospects for application of iodine−iodide leaching The Pourbaix diagrams of I−H2O system are plotted
of gold. It was demonstrated that it was feasible to form with the aid of the above mentioned software for
complex haloid anions in the process of treatment of thermodynamic calculations of initial iodine
gold-containing materials with aqueous solutions of concentration of c(I)initial=1×10−2 mol/L within the pH
cyclic type with alkyl or haloid radicals [42]. The value interval of 0−14 and the potential range from −2.0
thermodynamic calculations presented in Table 2 to 2.0 V (vs SHE).
(Reactions (8)−(11)) confirm the probability of
At the potential range from −2.0 to −0.6 V and pH
iodine−iodide leaching of gold from gold-containing
value interval of 0−12.1 and 25 °C, iodine is in the form
materials. Iodide is required in this case as a
of iodide ion I− (Figs. 1(a), 2(a) and 3(a)). Along with
complex-forming agent ensuring the formation of a
this ion, it is possible that IO3− ion is also present in the
stable complex with gold, and iodine is needed as an
solution, which at the given potential and pH values is
oxidant preventing disproportioning of the formed gold
less stable (Figs. 1(b), 2(b) and 3(b)) and becomes stable
complex and gold precipitation [45].
in the potential range from −2.0 to −0.75 V at pH value
The gold dissolution reaction in an iodine−iodide
of 12.1 and higher value.
system is expressed with Reaction (17).
At the potential range from −0.5 to −1.0 V, iodine
2Au+I¯+I3¯→2AuI2¯ (17) exists predominantly in the form of hypoiodous acid
As shown in Table 3, chloride and thiocyanate (Figs. 1(a), 2(a) and 3(a)). Under the same conditions,
leaching of gold-containing minerals does not result in the formation of unstable iodine ions such as H2IO+, I–,
the formation of insoluble metal compounds, which is H3IO62−, I3– and IO3– is possible (Figs. 1(b), 2(b) and
confirmed by the values of the isobaric−isothermal 3(b)).
potentials (ΔGо>>0) and equilibrium constant of With increasing the potential above 0.25 V, IO4–
Reaction (4). The thermodynamic probability of gold ions become stable at the pH value interval of 0−8.5, and
dissolution in aqua regia (Reaction (7)) increases H3IO62− ions become stable at the pH value greater than
substantially in comparison with the previous solvents. 8.5, and the formation of IO3– and I3– ions is possible.
In a poly-iodide solution, the formation of complex AuI4− An increase of the temperature causes a shift of
is also possible [46]. MURPHY [47] pointed out that regions of existence of both stable and unstable iodine
by selecting proper concentrations of iodide ion ions. With an increase of the temperature, the region
and molecular iodine, it was possible to obtain a redox of IO3− existence shifts to a more acidic region at 50 °C

Table 3 Standard oxidation potential and formation heat of haloid gold complexes
Parameter Cl3¯ Cl¯ Br3¯ Br¯ I3¯ I¯ (SCN)3¯ CN¯
Standard reduction potential/V −1.00 −1.15 −0.86 −0.96 −0.57 −0.56 −0.64 −0.57
Formation heat/ (kJ·mol−1) 48.55 17.58 24.7 15.49 0.84 3.18 – –
3778 S. S. KONYRATBEKOVA, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 25(2015) 3774−3783

Fig. 1 Pourbaix diagrams of I–H2O system at 25 °C: (a) Region of existence of stable iodine ions; (b) Region of existence of unstable
forms of iodine

Fig. 2 Pourbaix diagrams of I–H2O system at 50 °C: (a) Region of existence of stable iodine ions; (b) Region of existence of unstable
forms of iodine

Fig. 3 Pourbaix diagrams of I–H2O system at 80 °C: (a) Region of existence of stable iodine ions; (b) Region of existence of unstable
forms of iodine

with the pH value down to about 11.3 (Fig. 2(a)) and at to about 9.0.
80 °C with the pH value down to 10.5 (Fig. 3(a)). At the An increase of the temperature results in not only a
same time, the region of H3IO62− existence moves shift of the boundaries regions of existence of various
slightly toward the alkaline region at 50 °C with the pH iodine forms, but also a disturbance of their stability,
value up to about 8.75 and at 80 °C with the pH value up e.g., the formation of H2IO+ cation becomes
 S. S. KONYRATBEKOVA, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 25(2015) 3774−3783 3779
thermodynamically impossible. Thus, a thermodynamic preset mixing time, the gold-containing disc was
analysis of the I−H2O system suggests a conclusion that removed from the solution, washed with distilled water,
numerous iodine forms (I−, H3IO62−, IO3–, I3– and IO4–) dried and weighed. The mass loss of the disc was
exist mainly in the acidic region of pH values. An determined to assess the gold dissolution in time, and
increase of the potential of the system (more than accordingly the rate of metal transition to the solvent
–0.5 V) results in an increase of the number of iodine from a unit surface of the specimen.
forms of the aquatic medium. An increase of the The study of gold dissolution versus time was
temperature causes a shift of the boundaries of the iodine conducted using iodide solutions with a concentration of
form existence region towards the acidic region of the 40 mg/L and at a rotational speed of not more than
pH values. At the same time, some of them become 80 r/min to prevent the dissolution of the base material.
unstable, in particular H2IO+ ion. The effect of stirring speed and iodide solution
On the basis of the conducted studies, it can be concentrations on the gold dissolution was performed at
concluded that the gold leaching process should be approximately 30 min.
carried out within the acidic region of pH values, where In all cases, the copper content of the solution was
I−, I3– and IO4– ions are present, which are capable to monitored to make sure that the disc material did not
form complex compounds with gold. The oxidizing dissolve and the test results obtained were within the
potential of the system will increase in this case by the permissible error.
addition of element iodine. Since the system was closed, the condition of the
stationarity of the diffusion stream made it possible to
3.2 Kinetics of gold dissolution in iodide solutions solve the differential equations of the 1st and 2nd Fick
The determined values of the diffusion coefficients laws and obtain an integral expression, which is used for
using the rotating disc method and the thickness of the calculating heterogeneous diffusion processes.
diffusion boundary layer, as well as the solvent In accordance with the 1st Fick law, the mass of a
concentration on the disc surface indicate that the substance (dmi), diffusing through a flat surface with an
process proceeds in the external diffusion region. area S and perpendicular to the diffusion flow density
QI and HISKEY [26] used a glassy carbon rotating during a time (dτ), is proportional to S·dτ and the
disk electrode to investigate the electrochemistry of concentration gradient dρi/dx:
iodide and a gold rotating disk electrode to explore the dmi=−DiSdτ(dρi/dx) (18)
oxidation behavior of gold in iodide solutions. The
where Di is the diffusion coefficient.
effects of iodide concentration, electrode rotation and
The minus sign indicates the diffusion process
sweep rate on the electrochemical behavior of gold were
toward a decreasing concentration gradient. If the
examined. In addition, the reduction of iodine species on
diffusion process rate is assumed to be J=Ji=dmi/(dτ·S),
the gold electrode was also investigated. Two oxidation
called the diffusion flow density, then the equation of the
peaks, which represented the oxidations of Au to Au(I)
1st Fick law has a simple form:
and Au(III), were observed. It was confirmed that iodide
was oxidized sequentially to tri-iodide and then to iodine J=−Di(dρi/dx) (19)
and both of these reactions were reversible. At high The reaction equation was recreated with the
concentrations of iodide and/or a slow scan rate, boundary conditions for any t on the reaction surface x=0
passivation, which was caused by the formation of solid and ρi=ρn, within the solution volume x=δ, ρi=ρо.
iodine on the gold electrode surface, was found. Equation (2.3) has the following form:
The rotating disc method was used to study the
Ji=Δmi/(60τS) (20)
kinetics of gold dissolution from gold-containing
material [48]. The test was carried out under The calculation results are given in Table 4.
hydrodynamic conditions at an installation comprising a The repeatability of the dissolution rate in the case
reaction vessel with a capacity of 0.5 L, a magnetic of different reaction time is very good as the points only
mixer and a support stand with a disc fixed on it. A disk slightly deviate from a straight line. A deviation from a
having a diameter of 20 mm had a copper base plated straight line becomes noticeable at τ>150 min, therefore,
with gold (the mass of gold on the disc was 0.0711 g). further kinetics studies were conducted at τ=150 min
The disc was installed at the vessel center, without (Fig. 4).
touching its bottom. Then the vessel was filled with The dissolution rate is dependent on the mixing
iodide-containing solution and the mixing was started. intensity, which is the main feature of the diffusion
Gold dissolution from the disc was conducted at room regime. The preliminary studies (Fig. 5) indicate that
temperature (18−22 °C). The iodine concentration of the with increasing the mixing intensity above 100 r/min,
solvent varied from 40 to 250 mg/L. After the end of a the kinetics of the process changes (the slope angles of
3780 S. S. KONYRATBEKOVA, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 25(2015) 3774−3783
Table 4 Test conditions and calculation results
ρо/(mg·L−1) n/(r·min−1) mo/g mi/g Δm/g J/(10−7 g·сm−2·s−1) Di/(10−9 сm2·s−1) δn/10−7 сm
40 1.3230 1.3220 0.0010 0.18
60 1.3230 1.3218 0.0012 0.22
40 1.12 1.27
80 1.3230 1.3216 0.0014 0.25
100 1.3230 1.3214 0.0016 0.28
40 1.3280 1.3248 0.0032 0.56
60 1.3280 1.3241 0.0039 0.69
100 1.53 1.74
80 1.3280 1.3236 0.0044 0.78
100 1.3280 1.3230 0.0050 0.88
40 1.3338 1.3278 0.0060 1.06
60 1.3338 1.3264 0.0074 1.31
200 1.60 1.81
80 1.3338 1.3254 0.0084 1.48
100 1.3338 1.3243 0.0095 1.68
40 1.3477 1.3399 0.0078 1.38
60 1.3477 1.3381 0.0096 1.70
250 2.02 2.29
80 1.3477 1.3367 0.0110 1.94
100 1.3477 1.3353 0.0124 2.19
τ: 150 min; ν: 0.015 сm2/s; S: 6.28 сm2; t: 18−22 °С

the straight lines), and the gold dissolution rate remains

virtually constant.
Taking into account the slope angle of the straight
line:
tan β=J n =0.2Di2/3·Δρ·ν–1/6 (21)
Assuming Δρ=ρо on the basis of previous
calculations, the diffusion coefficients are calculated
(Table 4).
Di=(tan β·ν1/6/0.2Δρ)3/2 (22)
Based on the experimental results, a graph in
coordinates J−ρo is ploted (Fig. 6) corresponding to
Eq. (23):
Fig. 4 Effect of process duration on changes of gold mass
Ji=±Di(ρo−ρn)·τ/δi (23)
from which based on the slope angle tangent of the
straight line in relation to the abscissa axis, the value of
D/δ can be found as
tan α=J/ρo=D/δ (24)
In the heterogeneous diffusion process, the changes
of concentration take place only within the diffusion
boundary layer (δ). Within the rest of the liquid volume,
the concentration remains constant.
From the obtained equation, the thickness of the
diffusion boundary layer is calculate as (Table 4)
δ=D/tan α (25)
The intercept of the straight line on the abscissa axis
Fig. 5 Effect of mixing intensity on gold dissolution rate with corresponds to the iodine concentration on the disc
different iodine concentrations surface (ρn), which is calculated on the basis of the value
 S. S. KONYRATBEKOVA, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 25(2015) 3774−3783 3781
concentration on the surface of the disc is 14 mg/L.
Consequently, an increase of stirring intensity is limited
by the iodine evaporation from the surface of the solvent.

Acknowledgement
This collaborative research was based on the results
of bilateral contacts of Mineral-Metal Recovery and
Recycling (MMR&R) Research Group, Mineral
Processing Division, Department of Mining Engineering,
Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, and
Mining and Smelting Institute after O.A. Baikonurov,
Kazakh National Technical University named after K.I.
Satpaev, Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Fig. 6 Effect of iodine concentration in iodide solution on gold References

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碘−碘化物浸金湿法冶金的热力学和动力学
S. S. KONYRATBEKOVA1, A. BAIKONUROVA1, G. A. USSOLTSEVA1, C. ERUST2, A. AKCIL2
1. Mining and Smelting Institute after O.A. Baikonurov, Kazakh National Technical University named after K.I. Satpaev,
Satpaev Street, 22, Almaty 050013, Republic of Kazakhstan;
2. Mineral−Metal Recovery and Recycling Research Group, Mineral Processing Division,
Department of Mining Engineering, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta TR32260, Turkey

摘 要：研究金在碘−碘化物浸出液中的溶解热力学平衡和动力学，着重研究 pH 值和温度对体系的影响。水溶液
中碘的热力学分析结果表明，多种形式的碘化物主要存在于 pH 值为酸性的区间。体系电势的增加导致碘化物种
类的增加，碘元素的添加能提高体系的氧化电位。IO3−离子能稳定存在于电势范围为–2.0 至–0.75 V 和 pH 值大于
12.1 的区间。提高温度会使各种碘化物在酸性 pH 区间存在的边界线发生移动，其中一些碘化物变得不稳定。扩
散系数和扩散边界层厚度的测量值以及圆盘表面的溶剂质量浓度(14 mg/L)分析表明，浸出过程在外层扩散区域进
行。因此，当选择碘化物浸出含金物料时，浸出过程必须在 pH 值为酸性区间内进行，在这些区间 I−、I3–和 IO4–
离子能和金属形成配合物。
关键词：金；湿法冶金；碘−碘化物浸出；无氰浸出剂
(Edited by Mu-lan QIN)