RECOVERY OF CU AND CN~- BY SX FROM SOLUTIONS PRODUCED IN LEACHING OF CU/AU ORES

摘要

A solvent-extraction process has been developed for the removal of copper cyanide complexes from aqueous copper/gold cyanide solutions formed in gold-recovery circuits that treat ores containing cyanide-soluble copper. The process uses LIX 7820, one of the LIX 7800 reagent series developed by Henkel. It is based on a mixture of Aliquat 336, a quaternary amine, modified with an alkylphenol, 4-nonylphenol. Extraction and stripping data for the base metal cyanides and thiocyanate are presented. Methods for the recovery of copper and cyanide from the upgraded strip liquor are reviewed. A flowsheet based on this chemistry and a preliminary economic evaluation of a solvent-extraction circuit combined with the cyanide-recovery process developed by Metallgesellschaft Natural Resources (MNR) are also presented.