CIL CIP PROJECT PROPOSAL

FACULTY: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
RESEARCH TITLE: OPTIMIZATION OF GOLD RECOVERY FROM CIL AND CIP
PLANTS
NAME: MUNASHE SAMUEL MAKUSHA
STUDENT NUMBER: N0198640Q
SUPERVISOR: MISS S BHEBHE
YEAR: 2023
PROJECT TITLE: OPTIMIZATION OF GOLD RECOVERY FROM CIL AND CIP
PLANTS
TOPIC: HYDROMETALLURGY
AIM: TO INVESTIGATE DIFFERENT METHODS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED TO

INCREASE RECOVERY OF GOLD IN REFRACTORY ORES
OBJECTIVES
1. To describe the physical and chemical properties of gold ores

2. To classify different gold ores
3. To compare and contrast between CIP and CIL technology
4. To describe and explain the factors that affect gold leaching
5. To select the best pre-treatment methods and reagents that can enhance gold leaching
JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY
Globally, copper, silver, and gold ore body grades have been dropping, and the mineralogy
surrounding them has become more diversified and complex. The cyanidation process for gold
production has remained dominant for over 130 years because of its selectivity and feasibility in the
mining industry. For this reason, the industry has been adjusting its methods for the extraction of
gold, by utilizing more efficient processes and technologies. Often, gold may be found in conjunction
with copper and silver in ores and concentrates. Hence, the application of cyanide to these types of
ores can present some difficulty, as the diversity of minerals found within these ores can cause the
application of cyanidation to become more complicated. This project outlines the practices, processes,
and reagents proposed for the effective treatment of these ores. The primary purpose of this project is
to present improvements to the hydrometallurgical processes that currently exist in the mining
industry for the treatment of gold ores, as well as concentrate treatments. In addition, this project aims
to present the most important challenges that the industry currently faces, so that future processes that
are both more efficient and feasible may be established (D Medina, 2020).
LITERATURE REVIEW
The history of hydrometallurgy started with the discovery of how to obtain gold and silver from ores,
in 1887 by John Steward MacArthur, who was recognized for establishing the application of the
cyanidation process. Gold production around the world afterwards doubled as a consequence of
cyanidation’s initial application within the mining industry. Following the first application of
cyanidation in the recovery of gold, the hydrometallurgical industry has then after developed
according to the needs of the process and the mineral complexity of the ore deposits.
Hydrometallurgical processes can be described as the leaching of a desired metal into a solution,
followed by the concentration and purification of the pregnant solution, and finally, the recovery of
the metal or its compounds. (D Medina, 2020) The processing of gold and silver ore by leaching is
one of the greatest examples of early hydrometallurgy-based processes. Most of the gold extraction
from ore is accomplished by the use of an alkaline cyanide leaching process. The chemical recovery
of gold can be described by two different operations: the oxidative dissolution of gold and the
reductive precipitation of metallic gold from the solution. Cyanide is one of the most common
lixiviates in the current industrial gold leaching process. During gold cyanidation, silver, copper,
metal sulphides are commonly present within the solution, which causes their metal ions to react with
the cyanide (CN−), thus forming complexes. Cyanide is considered to be a very hazardous compound
because of its toxicity; there is currently environmental pressure by different groups around the world
to ban the industrial use of cyanide (C.G Anderson, 2020). Research on replacement of cyanide as a
lixiviant has been ongoing over the years, and has found that there are other potentially workable
compounds, such as thiosulfate, thiourea, halides, various sulfide systems, ammonia, bacteria, natural
acids, thiocyanate, nitriles, and combinations of cyanide with many other compounds. Alternative
gold processes are still in the early development stages. A key factor for the commercial success of
these alternative lixiviants relates to the stability of the lixiviant and the gold complex in solution. (D
Medina) Currently, the mining industry faces a big problem of separating these complex valuable
minerals from the ore in which they are found. This project explains various options that
hydrometallurgical processes offer for the treatment of these complex minerals.
RESEARCH DESIGN / METHODOLOGY
The methodology of this research will be done through:
1. The study of books, articles and journals related to recycling of waste engine oil
2. Experimental procedure and bottle roll tests using the steps given below
 The required bulk samples (2kg) is to be collected from the thickener overflow at
Old Nic Mine and CIL head. The sample is to be filtered and then dried using a gas
oven. In order to determine the metal grade (head grade) in the ore; the
representative sample is to be sent to T/A MATLABS, Bulawayo for fire assay.
 The cyanidation experiments are to be carried out in a tumble bottle at ambient
temperature under constant pH of 10.5, particle size of 80% passing 75 micron
screen and agitation speed of 25rpm, solids content of 42–44%, sodium cyanide
concentration of 0.82kg/t of ore and leaching time of 18–24 hours. For each test, a
500 g representative sample is selected first, the pulp is prepared in the tumble
bottle and the pH is adjusted using Ca(OH)2 to the targeted value, then the sodium
cyanide is added to the pulp and the pulp is mixed.

 Create about five samples and label the bottles A,B,C,D,E
 In sample B add NH 3, in sample C add NH 3 + Pb(NO 3)2, in sample D add NH 3
+ Pb(NO 3)2+ H 2 O2 in sample E add NH 3 + Pb(NO 3)2+ H 2 O2 + purified
oxygen
 Perforate the bottle cap to aerate the pulp. After each experiment, filter the sample
and analyse the liquid phase for the gold content and free cyanide using AAS
machine. Determination of free cyanide in solution, titration was employed with
standard silver nitrate (0.01 M) and potassium iodide (10%) as indicator. The
residue from the leaching experiment is to be dried and the representative sample is
be sent to T/A MATLABS, Bulawayo for fire assay.
 The gold leach recovery for each run is calculated using equation to investigate the
variation of gold leach recovery with respect to operating parameters.
R= ( head grade−tail
head grade
grade
)× 100 %
References
E. B. P. A., n.d. Advantages in gold ore processing. Issue Issue 1s, p. 2005.
M, M., 2016. Theory of vat leaching tanks.
Muir, 1993. The mechanism of the ammonia cyanide leaching of copper gold ores. 4 th Vol, pp 191-
204.
Osseo-Asare, K. X. T. C. V., 1984. Solution chemistry of cyanide leaching systems..
S.O.P, O. N. M. C. a. C., 2017.

CIL CIP PROJECT PROPOSAL

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CIL CIP PROJECT PROPOSAL

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CIL CIP PROJECT PROPOSAL

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

FACULTY: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

RESEARCH TITLE: OPTIMIZATION OF GOLD RECOVERY FROM CIL AND CIP

NAME: MUNASHE SAMUEL MAKUSHA

STUDENT NUMBER: N0198640Q

SUPERVISOR: MISS S BHEBHE

AIM: TO INVESTIGATE DIFFERENT METHODS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED TO

1. To describe the physical and chemical properties of gold ores

RESEARCH DESIGN / METHODOLOGY

The methodology of this research will be done through:

cyanide is added to the pulp and the pulp is mixed.

M, M., 2016. Theory of vat leaching tanks.

Osseo-Asare, K. X. T. C. V., 1984. Solution chemistry of cyanide leaching systems..

S.O.P, O. N. M. C. a. C., 2017.

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.