Kinetic investigation of sulfidizing annealing of scorodite in processing of refractory oxidized gold-containing ores

Abstract

The results of kinetic studies on the removal of arsenic from scorodite using sulfidizing annealing are presented. The reaction order with respect to the reactant and the activation energy are established from the experimental data. The rate-determining step of the sulfidizing annealing process is determined. The main reactions that occur during the sulfidizing of arsenic in scorodite are proposed on the basis of the obtained results and confirmed by thermodynamic calculations and chemical analyses. The major results of testing this technology, as applied to the refractory oxidized ores in which arsenic is mainly concentrated in scorodite, are presented. Arsenic removal from this ore is confirmed by chemical and quantitative X-ray diffraction analyses and by qualitative phase analysis. Industrial use of this technology provides safe and efficient processing of refractory gold-containing ores, where arsenic is mainly concentrated in scorodite.