CEMENTATION OF GOLD USING BY ZINC DUST

REZANO METALLURGY ENGINEERING 3334091847

OUTLINE
Introduction Gold Extraction Methods Gold Recovery From Solution Study of Aspect Application Refference

INTRODUCTION
Cementation ? Cementation is one method that can be used to precipitate the gold recovery by using other metal with the reduction potential value is smaller than the metal you want deposited.

CONT
Cementation are included in the methods of precipitation.

Precipitation can be done in several ways: 1. Using a gas 2. Using ion 3. Using other metals (Cementation).

SO WHY WE ARE USED ZINC DUST IN CEMENTATION OF GOLD ?

Because zinc reduction potential value is smaller than gold.

Au+ + e Au E0 = 1.68V Cu2+ + 2e Cu E0 = 0.34V Zn2+ + 2e Zn E0 = 0.76V Al3+ + 3e Al E0 = 1.66V

CONT
Where the process cementation of gold by zinc dust can be found ?

GOLD EXTRACTION METHODS

Although new process are being proposed on a regular basis, there have in fact been no dramatic changes in the metallurgical techniques for gold extraction since the introduction of the cyanide process (cyanide leaching or cyanidation) by McArthur and Forrester in 1887 . A basic flowchart for the recovery of gold from its ore is provided in Figure 1.
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CONT

GOLD RECOVERY FROM SOLUTION

Carbon Adsorption Merrill-Crowe process Electrowinning Ion-exchange/Solvent Extraction

MERRILL-CROWE PROCESS
The Merrill-Crowe Process is a separation technique for removing gold from a cyanide solution. The solution is separated from the ore by methods such as filtration and counter current decantation (CCD) and then clarified in special filters, usually coated with diatomaceous earth to produce a clarified solution . Oxygen is then removed by passing through a vacuum deaeration column. Zinc dust is then added to the clarified, deaerated solution which precipitate the gold.
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STUDY OF ASPECT

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CONT
The cementation of gold and silver by zinc dust is an electrochemical process, proceeding by localized anodic and cathodic reactions. A schematic of this process is shown in Fig. 2. The main reactions for zinc dissolution are: Zn + 4CN-+ 1/202 + H20 Zn(CN)2-4+ 2 0H(1) 2Au(CN)2- + Zn 2Au + Zn(CN) 2-4 (2) Zn + H20 + 2Au(CN)2- 2Au + HZnO 2- + 3H++ 4CN(3)

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CONT
In order to understand in more detail the dissolution of zinc in cyanide solution, it is useful to consider the thermodynamics of the system utilizing Eh-pH diagrams. These diagrams delineate the stability regions of various specious at equilibrium and, consequently are useful in the study of the solubility of zinc in cyanide solution. It has been suggested that the following reactions occur when zinc dissolves in cyanide solution: Zn + 4CN- Zn(CN)- + 2e (4) Zn + 3OH- HZnO2- + H20 + 2e (5)

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CONT

These half reactions can be coupled with the water discharge half cell to produce hydrogen: Zn + 4CN- + 2H20 Zn(CN)- + 2OH- + H 2 (6) Zn + 2H20 HZnO2- + H++ H 2 (7) All of these reactions are electrochemical processes and may be resolved into their appropriate half cells for the construction of pertinent Eh-pH diagrams. The essential half-cell reaction for zinc dissolution in aqueous solution is: Zn 2+ + 2e Zn E = -0.762 + 0.0295 log [Zn 2+ ] (8)
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CONT
Zinc is so strongly reducing that even at relatively high Zn 2+ concentrations, the potential lies well below that required to reduce water. In alkaline cyanide solutions zinc forms numerous complexes by reaction with hydroxyl and cyanide ions. Of these one, Zn(OH) 2, is sparingly soluble. The rest are soluble. The relevant equilibria involving metallic zinc are: Zn(CN)2-4 + 2e Zn + 4CN(9) E= -1.25 + 0.0295 log [Zn(CN)2-4] + 0.118pCN Zn(OH)2 + 2e Zn + 2OHE= -0.419 - 0.059pH (10) HZnO-2 + 3H + + 2e Zn + 2H20 E = 0.054 - 0.0886 pH + 0.0295 log [HZnO -2 ] (11) ZnO2-2 + 2H20 + 2e 4OH- + Zn E = - 1.216 + 0.0295 log [ZnO2-2 ] + 0.118 pOH (12)
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CONT

In addition, hydrocyanic acid acts as a weak acid, and its hydrolysis can be represented as: H++ CN- HCN pH + pCN = 9.4 - log[HCN] (13) Eq. (13) indicates a considerable reduction in the cyanide activity when the pH falls below the value of 9.4. The total cyanide content, A, as referred to in practice, is defined by the following equation: A = [HCN] + [CN-] (14) and Eq. (13) becomes: pH + pCN = 9.4 + log(1 + 10 pH-9,4) log a (15) By combining Eq. (9) and Eq. (15), one obtains: Zn(CN)2-4 + 2e Zn + 4CNE=-1.25 + 0.0295 log[Zn(CN) 2-4 ] 16 (16)

CONT

The Eh-pH diagrams describing these reactions are shown in Fig. 3a-c. From these figures it can be seen that zinc will be oxidized at all pH values, while dissolved oxygen will be reduced. In addition, zinc can also reduce water to hydrogen at all pH values. For convenience, activities and concentrations have been assumed to be equal, which is a reasonable assumption considering the relatively low concentration of cyanide and zinc species in solution.
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CONT

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FLOWSHEET OF MERRILL-CROWE PROCESS

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APPLICATION

Jerritt Canyon, Yukon-Nevada Gold Corp. 900-688 West Hastings Street Vancouver BC V6B 1P1 Canada

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The unit operations at the Jerritt Canyon processing plant are comprised of the following circuits: Primary crushing; Secondary crushing; Fine ore drying; Tertiary crushing; Dry grinding; Roasting; Carbon-in-leach (CIL) with cyanidation and carbon adsorption; Carbon stripping; Carbon reactivation; Merrill-Crowe process using zinc cementation of gold and silver; Precipitate refining; Oxygen plant; and Tailing impoundment.

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REFFERENCE

Eugene.W.W.L and Mujumdar.A.S : Gold Extraction and Recovery Processes . Minerals, Metals and Materials Technology Centre (M3TC) Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore,2009. http://mineraltambang.com/zinc-presipitation-recovery.html http://www.scribd.com/doc/46100691/proses-pengolahan-emas [http://www.scribd.com/doc/59323335/Merrill-Crowe-Solubility-of-Zinc-inAlkaline-Cyanide-Solution]

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GRATEFULNESS

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