Solvent extraction of gold by LIX 79: experimental equilibrium study

✍ Scribed by Ana María Sastre; Abdelhay Madi; José Luis Cortina; Francisco José Alguacil

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 152 KB
• Volume: 74
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0268-2575
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4660(199904)74:4<310::aid-jctb33>3.0.co;2-y

✦ Synopsis

The extraction of gold(I) from aurocyanide aqueous solutions using LIX 79 has been studied. Diþ erent variables that could aþ ect the extraction system were evaluated : equilibration time, aqueous pH, metal and extractant concentrations, organic phase diluent and aqueous ionic strength. The extraction of the aurocyanide complex with respect to other metal-cyano complexes has also been studied on both synthetic and real leach solutions. Gold experimental data have been analysed numerically to determine the stoichiometry of extracted species and its equilibrium constant. It was found that gold(I) was extracted into the organic phase by the formation of the species RHAu(CN) 2 (LIX 79 = R). Stripping of gold from loaded organic phases was carried out using NaOH or NaCN solutions.