Suspension Roasting in Enhancing Gold Leaching Efficiency and Modifying Pore Structure in High-Sulfur, Carbonaceous, Arsenic-Bearing Refractory Gold Ores
摘要
As one of the primary sources for gold recovery, the recovery efficiency of gold from high-sulfur-containing carbon and arsenic refractory gold ore is far from satisfactory. The suspension roasting process can enhance the gold leaching effect. According to thermodynamic analysis, sulfur and arsenic are oxidized into gaseous products, while ankerite and muscovite are decomposed. The experimental results showed that two-step suspension roasting achieved a higher leaching rate than one-step roasting for such ore. Under the condition of two-step suspension roasting, the gold leaching rate reached 84.77%. Suspension roasting increased the distribution rate of gold in bared and semi-bared forms while reducing the arsenic distribution rate in arsenopyrite. Analysis of the calcine’s pore structure indicated that increasing roasting temperature, time, and oxygen concentration promotes pore formation. However, excessively high parameters may lead to sintering and the "secondary wrapping" of arsenic, which blocks pore structures, hinders contact between gold and leaching agents, and ultimately reduces leaching efficiency.