Electrochemical process for recovering precious metals from their ores

Abstract

An electrochemical process of the type for recovering precious metals such as gold and silver from their ores by adding to a slurry of the ore a cyanide complexing agent such as sodium cyanide and by electrolytically recovering the precious metal. The process is characterized by the use of small quantities, e.g., 50 milligrams per liter, of a water soluble electroconductive cationic resin, preferably polyvinylbenzyltri-methylammoniumchloride sold under the name ECR-34 by Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Michigan as an aqueous solution containing 33.7% of solids. The use of such a resin increases the amount of precious metals recovered from the ore per unit of time, improves the degree of recoverability, and improves the quality of the recovered metal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.