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INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS TO RECOVER METALS FROM BAIA MARE CENTRAL FLOTATION POND BY STEP-LEACHING
Abstract
Historical ore exploitations generated mining waste with useful metal content, near Baia Mare, Romania. Central Flotation Pond (CFP) represents a secondary resource, but also a risk factor of pollution for the environment: groundwater, surface water, soil, air. CFP was inventoried by the Permanent Secretariat of the International Commission for the Protection of Danube River (ICPDR) as high risks spot in Romania with immediate effects on Somes-Tisa sub-basin, due to the content of dangerous substances: cyanide, heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Mn). The report of the European Commission delivered as a result following causes and effects of Aurul (historical pond in Baia Mare area) accident evaluation. Complex ores and concentrates which incorporate a variety of recoverable metals can be effectively processed by using hydrometallurgical routes. This paper took into account data regarding researches based on simply treating by aqueous solutions using different leaching media (e.g. mineral acids, deep eutectic solvents), keeping low processing costs. Also, in hydrometallurgical plants, solutions and slurries generally are transferred easily in closed pipeline systems which indicate another cost advantage. The main objective is to develop an eco-friendly technology to the heavy and precious metals recovery, an alternative to polluting technologies such as cyanide, according to legislative, environmental and economic framework. This can be achieved by extraction of metals from ores using hydrometallurgical processes. The technological flow sheet proposes a step-leaching process using both common acids (H2SO4, HNO3) and deep eutectic solvents (maline, ethaline), followed by precipitation and electrochemical processes for useful elements recovery. Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) method highlighted the presence of Ag, Cu, Pb, Fe in electrochemical deposits obtained from leachates.
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References5
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