Method for Improving Gold Recovery
AssigneeChemtreat, Inc.
InventorJohn RICHARDSON
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods and compositions for improving metal extraction processes by introducing at least one cationically charged compound selected from a group consisting of amines, particularly quaternary amines such as alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chlorides (ADBAC compounds), polyamines and other suitable cationic organic materials, and mixtures thereof, for neutralizing and/or coagulating excess anionic organic compounds including, for example, flotation reagents, surfactants, polymers, flotation reagent by-products and/or anti-scalant additives found in metal concentrate streams, and thereby reduce the downstream fouling of the activated carbon by these compounds.
Claims18
A method for recovering a metal in a leaching process comprising:
- obtaining a metal concentrate stream, the metal concentrate stream containing a concentration of a free anionic organic compound;
- combining a quantity of a cationic amine compound with the metal concentrate stream to form an adjusted metal concentrate stream, the quantity of the cationic amine compound being sufficient to neutralize at least a majority of the free anionic organic compound;
- mixing the adjusted metal concentrate stream with activated carbon under conditions whereby the metal is selectively adsorbed on the activated carbon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.