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Aim:
1. Extraction of gold using thiosulphate solution
2. Observing the effect of temperature, thiosulphate
concentration, ammonia concentration, copper ions
concentration and stirring speed on the extraction.
3. Optimizing the reaction by testing other catalysts.
Theory:
Gold is extracted by amalgamation and by leaching with cyanide
solutions, both toxic chemicals, harmful to workers in the plant and
the environment. Over the past years, there has been much focus
on researches aimed at discovering alternatives to replace mercury
and cyanide in gold extraction. Thiosulphate is one potential
replacement for the toxic chemicals used. Itisknownthatthiosulphateisa
metastablespeciesthatreadilyundergoesdecompositioninaqueoussolutions.
Ammoniaisaprerequisiteforthiosulphateleachingofgold,asitsabsencemakes
goldpassivebythebuildupofSulphurcoatingonthesurfaceasaresultof
decompositionofthiosulphate.Ammoniaadsorbsontothegoldsurfacepreferentially
overthiosulphateforminggoldamminecomplextherebyreducingthepassivation.
Thegoldamminecomplexinteractswiththiosulphateforminggoldthiosulphate
complexasshownbelow:
+ 2 3
Au(NH3)2 +2S2O3 =Au(S2O3)2 +2NH3
Copperionsactasacatalystforgolddissolutioninammoniacalthiosulphatesystem.
Therearefewreportsintheliteratureoncopperionactivationofgolddissolutionin
ammoniacalthiosulphatesystem.Copperionsreadilyformcupricamminecomplex
Cu(NH3)42+withammoniawhichtheninteractswithAuforminggoldammine
complex.
Au+Cu(NH3)42+=Au(NH3)2++Cu(NH3)2+
Materials and reagents:
Sodiumthiosulphate(Na2S2O35H2O)
Ammoniawater(28%NH3)
Cupricsulphate(CuSO45H2O)
Threeneckedflask
Magneticstirrer
Thermometer
Beakersandburette
Clampstand
Method:
Thegoldoremustbecrushedintosmallerparticlesandcharacterized.
Measure300gofthegroundgoldoreandmixitwith750mlofammoniacal
thiosulphateleachantinabeakerthentransferthemixtureintothethreeneckedflask.
Keepthesolidssuspendedbymeansofamagneticstirreratthespeedof400rpm.
Useoneofthenecksoftheflaskforthethermometerandtheotheroneforcollecting
sampleforanalysisatregulartimeintervals.
Theconcentrationofthemixturemustbekeptat40%atalltimes.
Ammonia solution;