Resumen

MENDOZA VILLABONA, Olger Giovani  y  PEDRAZA ROSAS, Julio Elías. Catalytic effect of LeachWell 60X^® and Pb⁺², S^-2 ions in electrochemical cyanidation of gold from sulfured minerals. Rev.fac.ing.univ. Antioquia [online]. 2006, n.37, pp. 09-20. ISSN 0120-6230.

Extraction of gold from sulfur minerals by cyanidation is a difficult process. The effect of a catalyst (LeachWell 60X^® LW) and Pb²⁺, as well as the inhibiting effect of S^2-, on the performance of the extraction of gold by cyanation was studied. The anodic oxidation of gold and the cathodic reduction of oxygen, both under conventional cyanidation (1.000 p. p. m. of CN^- and a oxygen-deficient environment, 5,2 p. p. m.) and "enhanced" cyanidation (25.000 p. p. m. of CN^- and oxygensaturated environment, 24 p. p. m.) were studied by linear- and cyclic-scan potentiodynamic methods. Results indicate that Pb²⁺and LW display similar behavior, and confirm a significant inhibiting effect of S^-2even at low concentrations (0,5 - 10 p. p. m.). The significant increase in the overall dissolution rate was attributed mainly to the increase in the rate of oxygen reduction.

Palabras llave : catalyst; intensive cyanidation; gold; sulphide; LeachWell 60X^®.