TY - GEN
T1 - Recovery of PGMS from mine sludge by leaching
AU - Nheta, Willie
AU - Mapotsane, Kutullo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© SGEM2017. All Rights Reserved.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - South Africa host massive deposits of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) in the Igneous Bushveld Complex. These deposits have been mined for a long time and in the process Mine sludge has been produced. It has been piled up and there is need to recover PGMs locked in it. The conventional way of processing PGMs has proved to be very difficult due to ultra-fines in the sludge that causes major loses during flotation. An alternative hydrometallurgical process for recovery of PGMs from a mine sludge by leaching using a mixture of hydrochloric acid and different oxidizing agents was investigated. It was found that the mine sludge contained 8.93 g/t Pt, 6.99 g/t Pd, 2.79 g/t Ru and minor percentages of Rh, Ir, and Au. It had a particle size distribution (PSD) of 84.64% passing 38 microns. Major mineral phases present are sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite, covellite, bornite, chromite, and silica as the main gangue. HCL + H2O2 (1:1) combination managed to leach all the PGMs and gold. HCL + Ferric Chloride (1:1) combination managed to leach Pt, Rh and Ru very well but it could not leach Pd. Further investigation on the optimization of the leaching conditions is being done.
AB - South Africa host massive deposits of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) in the Igneous Bushveld Complex. These deposits have been mined for a long time and in the process Mine sludge has been produced. It has been piled up and there is need to recover PGMs locked in it. The conventional way of processing PGMs has proved to be very difficult due to ultra-fines in the sludge that causes major loses during flotation. An alternative hydrometallurgical process for recovery of PGMs from a mine sludge by leaching using a mixture of hydrochloric acid and different oxidizing agents was investigated. It was found that the mine sludge contained 8.93 g/t Pt, 6.99 g/t Pd, 2.79 g/t Ru and minor percentages of Rh, Ir, and Au. It had a particle size distribution (PSD) of 84.64% passing 38 microns. Major mineral phases present are sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite, covellite, bornite, chromite, and silica as the main gangue. HCL + H2O2 (1:1) combination managed to leach all the PGMs and gold. HCL + Ferric Chloride (1:1) combination managed to leach Pt, Rh and Ru very well but it could not leach Pd. Further investigation on the optimization of the leaching conditions is being done.
KW - Leaching
KW - Mine sludge
KW - Oxidizing agents and platinum group metals
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85032477597&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5593/sgem2017/11/S04.126
DO - 10.5593/sgem2017/11/S04.126
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85032477597
SN - 9786197408263
T3 - International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Surveying Geology and Mining Ecology Management, SGEM
SP - 987
EP - 994
BT - Education and Accreditation in Geosciences; Environmental Legislation, Multilateral Relations And Funding Opportunities
PB - International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference
T2 - 17th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference, SGEM 2017
Y2 - 29 June 2017 through 5 July 2017
ER -