Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development of a hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of gold and silver powders from anode slime containing copper, nickel, tin, and zinc

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Gold Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to recover gold and silver from anode slimes containing Cu, Ni, Sn, and Zn, an integrated hydrometallurgical process consisting of leaching, solvent extraction, and cementation was developed. All the metals together with 10% of Ag(I) were dissolved by the mixture of HCl and H2O2 at the optimum conditions. Separation of Au (III) together with Sn (II) was performed by Cyanex 272 from the leaching solution with two-stage counter current extraction. Stripping of Au (III) and Sn (II) from the loaded organic phase was sequentially carried out by NH4Cl and NaOH. Cu (II) in the raffinate after Au (III) extraction was separated by LIX 63 with three-stage counter current extraction. Pure Cu (II) solution was recovered from the loaded LIX 63 by stripping with dilute HCl solution. Ag powders with extra high purity were obtained by cementation with copper sheet from the raffinate after Cu (II) separation. Au (III) (99.3%) and 96.8% of Sn (II) were recovered by extraction, and purity of Au (III) and Sn (II) stripping solutions was found to be 99.99%. Au powders with extra high purity were directly synthesized by adding ascorbic acid solution into the NH4Cl stripping solution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey (2018) Mineral commodity summaries 2018: U.S. Geological Survey, 200 p. https://doi.org/10.3133/70194932

  2. Dehghanpoor MH, Zivdar M, Torabi M (2016) Extraction of copper and gold from anode slime of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex. J South Afr Inst Min Metall 116(7):1153–1157. https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2016/v116n12a9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hait J, Jana RK, Sanyal SK (2013) Processing of copper electrorefining anode slime: a review. Miner Process Extract Metall 118(4):240–252. https://doi.org/10.1179/174328509x431463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lu D, Chang Y, Yang H, Xie F (2015) Sequential removal of selenium and tellurium from copper anode slime with high nickel content. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China 25(4):1307–1314. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1003-6326(15)63729-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ding Y, Zhang S, Liu B, Li B (2017) Integrated process for recycling copper anode slime from electronic waste smelting. J Clean Prod 165:48–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.094

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kilic Y, Kartal G, Timur S (2013) An investigation of copper and selenium recovery from copper anode slimes. Int J Miner Process 124:75–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2013.04.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Nagai H, Shibata E, Nakamura T (2017) Development of methods for concentration and dissolution of Rh and Ru from copper slime. Hydrometallurgy 169:282–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2017.01.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Han J, Liang C, Liu W, Qin W, Jiao F, Li W (2017) Pretreatment of tin anode slime using alkaline pressure oxidative leaching. Sep Purif Technol 174:389–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2016.10.056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Xing W, Lee M (2017) Leaching of gold and silver from anode slime with a mixture of hydrochloric acid and oxidizing agents. Geosyst Eng 20(4):216–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/12269328.2017.1278728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Xu B, Yang Y, Li Q, Yin W, Jiang T, Li G (2016) Thiosulfate leaching of Au, Ag and Pd from a high Sn, Pb and Sb bearing decopperized anode slime. Hydrometallurgy 164:278–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2016.06.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Li J, Miller JD (2006) A review of gold leaching in acid thiourea solutions. Miner Process Extr Metall Rev 27(3):177–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/08827500500339315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Viñals J, Juan E, Ruiz M, Ferrando E, Cruells M, Roca A, Casado J (2006) Leaching of gold and palladium with aqueous ozone in dilute chloride media. Hydrometallurgy 81(2):142–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2005.12.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lee HY, Kim SG, Oh JK (2013) Cementation behavior of gold and silver onto Zn, Al and Fe powders from acid thiourea solutions. Can Metall Q 36(3):149–155. https://doi.org/10.1179/cmq.1997.36.3.149

    Google Scholar 

  14. Chaparro M, Munive G, Guerrero P, Parga JR, Vazquez V, Valenzuela JL (2015) Gold adsorption in thiosulfate solution using anionic exchange resin. J Multidiscip Eng Sci Technol 2(8):2159–2163

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sadeghi N, Alamdari EK (2016) Selective extraction of gold (III) from hydrochloric acid–chlorine gas leach solutions of copper anode slime by tri-butyl phosphate (TBP). Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China 26(12):3258–3265. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1003-6326(16)64459-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kononova ON, Melnikov AM, Borisova TV (2012) Simultaneous sorption recovery of platinum and rhodium from sulfate–chloride solutions. Hydrometallurgy 117-118:101–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2012.02.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Safarzadeh MS, Horton M, Rythoven ADV (2017) Review of recovery of platinum group metals from copper leach residues and other resources. Miner Process Extr Metall Rev 39(1):1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/08827508.2017.1323745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Li D, Guo X, Xu Z, Xu R, Feng Q (2016) Metal values separation from residue generated in alkali fusion-leaching of copper anode slime. Hydrometallurgy 165:290–294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2016.01.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Xing W, Lee M, Senanayake G (2018) Recovery of metals from chloride leach solutions of anode slimes by solvent extraction. Part I: recovery of gold with Cyanex 272. Hydrometallurgy 180:58–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Xing W, Lee M, Senanayake G (2018) Recovery of metals from chloride leach solutions of anode slimes by solvent extraction. Part II: recovery of silver and copper with LIX 63 and Alamine 336. Hydrometallurgy 180:49–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Rüşen A, Topçu MA (2017) Optimization of gold recovery from copper anode slime by acidic ionic liquid. Korean J Chem Eng 34(11):2958–2965. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-017-0200-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Nikoloski AN, Ang K-L, Li D (2015) Recovery of platinum, palladium and rhodium from acidic chloride leach solution using ion exchange resins. Hydrometallurgy 152:20–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2014.12.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Xing W, Lee M, Choi S (2018) Separation of Ag(I) by ion exchange and cementation from a raffinate containing Ag(I), Ni(II) and Zn(II) and traces of Cu(II) and Sn(II). Processes 6(8):112–126. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr6080112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Malassis L, Dreyfus R, Murphy RJ, Hough LA, Donnio B, Murray CB (2016) One-step green synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles with ascorbic acid and their versatile surface post-functionalization. RSC Adv 6(39):33092–33100. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ra00194g

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ji X, Song X, Li J, Bai Y, Yang W, Peng X (2007) Size control of gold nanocrystals in citrate reduction: the third role of citrate. J Am Chem Soc 129:13939–13948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhang Z, Wu Y (2010) Investigation of the NaBH4-induced aggregation of Au nanoparticles. Langmuir 26(12):9214–9223. https://doi.org/10.1021/la904410f

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Xing W, Lee M (2019) Recovery of gold(III) from the stripping solution containing palladium(II) by ion exchange and synthesis of gold particles. J Ind Eng Chem 69:255–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Liu Y, Lee M (2016) Regeneration of a binary mixture of Cyanex 272 and Alamine 336 for the solvent extraction of rare earths elements by treatment with sodium hydroxide solution. J Mol Liq 219:411–416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2016.03.055

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea (2018R1D1A1B07044951).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Rare Metal, Mokpo National University, Chonnam, Gwangju, 534729, South Korea

    Wei Dong Xing & Man Seung Lee

Authors
  1. Wei Dong Xing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Man Seung Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Man Seung Lee.

Ethics declarations

Open access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xing, W.D., Lee, M.S. Development of a hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of gold and silver powders from anode slime containing copper, nickel, tin, and zinc. Gold Bull 52, 69–77 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13404-019-00254-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13404-019-00254-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation