The effect of ore mineralogy on the electrochemical gold dissolution behavior in various cyanide and oxygen concentrations; Effect of sulfidic ores containing heavy metals

摘要

The effect of heavy metals-containing gold ore mineralogy on gold oxidation kinetics in solutions with various free cyanide (CN) and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations was studied by electrochemical tests. To effectively simulate the cyanide gold leaching conditions, the electrochemical experiments were carried out in the slurries of the ores. The results of the linear sweep voltammetry tests showed three significant gold oxidation peaks. The peak potentials and the corresponding current densities were dependent on the composition of the ores in the test slurries, and the CN and DO concentrations of the test solutions. The heavy metal concentration of the ores also effectively changed the electrochemical response of the tests.