Removal of zinc cyanide from a leach solution by an anionic ion-exchange resin


Kurama H., Catalsarik T.

Desalination, vol.129, no.1, pp.1-6, 2000 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 129 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2000
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/s0011-9164(00)00045-x
  • Journal Name: Desalination
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-6
  • Keywords: treatment, zinc cyanide, ion exchange, silver solution
  • Eskisehir Osmangazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The Merrill-Crowe process has been used for the precipitation of silver metal from cyanide solutions. Although the Merrill-Crowe system operates effectively most of the time, if the recycled solution contains a high zinc cyanide concentration, it leads to a decrease in efficiency of the solution as a solvent. In this study an anionic ion-exchange resin, Lewatit MP62, was used for the treatment of excess zinc cyanide from alkaline leach solutions. Ion-exchange tests were conducted in a laboratory-scale glass column using recycled water from the 100th Year Silver Cyanidation Plant in Turkey. It contains 474 mg/l Zn and 720 mg/l CN. The exchange capacity of the resin and the initial pH effect on the loading capacity were determined by breakthrough curves. It was found that zinc cyanide was completely removed from a recycled solution until it reached the breakthrough point. The Merrill-Crowe process has been used for the precipitation of silver metal from cyanide solutions. Although the Merrill-Crowe system operates effectively most of the time, if the recycled solution contains a high zinc cyanide concentration, it leads to a decrease in efficiency of the solution as a solvent. In this study an anionic ion-exchange resin, Lewatit MP62, was used for the treatment of excess zinc cyanide from alkaline leach solutions. Ion-exchange tests were conducted in a laboratory-scale glass column using recycled water from the 100th Year Silver Cyanidation Plant in Turkey. It contains 474 mg/l Zn and 720 mg/l CN. The exchange capacity of the resin and the initial pH effect on the loading capacity were determined by breakthrough curves. It was found that zinc cyanide was completely removed from a recycled solution until it reached the breakthrough point.