Scholarly record
RECOVERY OF PGMS FROM MINE SLUDGE BY LEACHING
Abstract
South Africa host massive deposits of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) in the Igneous Bushveld Complex. These deposits have been mined for a long time and in the process Mine sludge has been produced. It has been piled up and there is need to recover PGMs locked in it. The conventional way of processing PGMs has proved to be very difficult due to ultra-fines in the sludge that causes major loses during flotation. An alternative hydrometallurgical process for recovery of PGMs from a mine sludge by leaching using a mixture of hydrochloric acid and different oxidizing agents was investigated. It was found that the mine sludge contained 8.93 g/t Pt, 6.99 g/t Pd, 2.79 g/t Ru and minor percentages of Rh, Ir, and Au. It had a particle size distribution (PSD) of 84.64% passing 38 microns. Major mineral phases present are sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite, covellite, bornite, chromite, and silica as the main gangue. HCL + H2O2 (1:1) combination managed to leach all the PGMs and gold. HCL + Ferric Chloride (1:1) combination managed to leach Pt, Rh and Ru very well but it could not leach Pd. Further investigation on the optimization of the leaching conditions is being done.
Publication Impact Profile
- Citations
- Scopus - Citation Indexes: 1
- Captures
- Mendeley - Readers: 15
Publication details
References0
Structured references will appear here after the reference import pass. The count is preserved now so the scholarly record is not incomplete.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.