Inhibition of the depletion of metal values from pregnant lixiviant solutions

• US 7,157,062 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Betz, Inc. (General Electric Co. (Italy))
• Original Assignee: GE Betz, Inc. (General Electric Co. (Italy))
• Inventors: Polizzotti, David M., Perez, Libardo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOS, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US10/417,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20030228245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 423/25, 423/27, 423/29, 423/30, 423/31
• US Class Current: 423/25
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 11/08 by cyaniding
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 3/04 by leaching C22B3/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling

Abstract

Methods for inhibiting depletion of mineral values from pregnant lixiviant solutions comprise contacting the requisite metal ore with a preg-robbing inhibition agent (PRIA) comprising (I) alkyl polyglucoside surfactants; (II) imidazoline based amphoteric surfactants; (III) hydroformylation products of lower (C₂–C₈) alkanes in an organic solvent medium, and (IV) esters and aldehydes.

Claims

1. In the leaching of gold from a gold metal ore in which a lixiviant solution is placed in contact with said gold metal ore to extract said gold therefrom in the form of a pregnant lixiviant solution, a method of inhibiting depletion of said extracted gold from said pregnant lixiviant solution, said method comprising contacting said gold metal ore with an effective amount of a preg-robbing inhibition agent (PRIA) comprising hydroformylation products of C₂–

C₈ alkenes in a C₃–

C₂₄ medium.

2. Method as recited in claim 1 wherein from about 0.024–

about 6 kg of said PRIA is brought into contact with said gold metal ore based upon 1 ton of said gold metal ore.

3. Method as recited in claim 2 wherein from about 0.5–

about 2.0 kg of said PRIA is brought into contact with said gold metal ore based upon 1 ton of said gold metal ore.

4. Method as recited in claim 1 wherein said pregnant lixiviant solution comprises a cyanide solution.

5. Method as recited in claim 1 wherein said C₂–

C₈ alkene hydroformylation products comprise 2-ethylhexanol, 2-methylpentanol, 2-ethylhexanal; and

2-methyihexanol.

6. Method as recited in claim 5 wherein said preg-robbing inhibition agent further comprises kerosene.

7. In a metal pulp comprising a gold metal ore and a pregnant lixiviant solution containing gold cyanide complexes, a method of inhibiting adsorption of said gold cyanide complexes by said gold metal ore comprising contacting said gold metal ore with an effective preg-robbing inhibition agent (PRIA) comprising hydroformylation products of C₂–

C₈ alkenes in a C₃–

C₂₄ medium.

8. Method as recited in claim 7 wherein from about 0.024–

about 6 kg of said PRIA is brought into contact with said gold metal ore based upon 1 ton of said gold metal ore.

9. Method as recited in claim 8 wherein from about 0.5 kg–

about 2 kg of said PRIA is brought into contact with said gold metal ore based upon 1 ton of said gold metal ore.

10. Method as recited in claim 7 said hydroformylation products comprise 2-ethylhexanol, 2-methylpentanol, 2-ethylhexanol;

and 2- methyihexanol.

11. Method as recited in claim 10 wherein said preg-robbing inhibition agent further comprises kerosene.

12. In a gold extraction process in which a lixiviant solution is brought into contact with a gold bearing ore to form a pregnant lixiviant solution, and wherein said pregnant lixiviant solution is contacted with activated carbon to aid in separating said gold from said pregnant lixiviant solution, the improvement comprising contacting said activated carbon with hydroformylation products of C₂–

C₈ alkenes in a C₃–

C₂₄ medium.

13. Process as recited in claim 12 wherein said hydroformylation products comprise 2-ethylhexanol, 2-methylpentanol, 2-ethylhexanal and 2-methylhexanol.