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Recovery of impregnated gold from waste mine timber through biological degradation
Author(s)
Martin, W.
Date Issued
2000
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Technikon
Abstract
The large quantities of wood chips produced at mines from damaged underground
timber contain gold that cannot be completely recovered by cyanidation. A fungus that
can degrade a portion of the wood matrix will allow the gold that was previously locked
up, to come into contact with the cyanide solution during beneficiation, thereby
improving recoveries. The fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium produces enzymes that
use the organic compounds found in lignin as substrate. Consequently, the fungus is
able to selectively break down lignin, which is one of the major components of wood.
Chips sampled from Vaal Reef Mine contained between 2 and 5 mg/kg gold. The main
source of gold in the chips was determined to be impregnated gold-bearing ore and
discrete gold particles. Direct cyanidation resulted in around 60 per cent recovery prior
to biological treatment. Despite relatively high weight losses caused to the chips as a
result of treatment with Phanerochaete chrysosporium gold recovery only increased 10
per cent after 4 weeks treatment compared to direct recovery without treatment.
timber contain gold that cannot be completely recovered by cyanidation. A fungus that
can degrade a portion of the wood matrix will allow the gold that was previously locked
up, to come into contact with the cyanide solution during beneficiation, thereby
improving recoveries. The fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium produces enzymes that
use the organic compounds found in lignin as substrate. Consequently, the fungus is
able to selectively break down lignin, which is one of the major components of wood.
Chips sampled from Vaal Reef Mine contained between 2 and 5 mg/kg gold. The main
source of gold in the chips was determined to be impregnated gold-bearing ore and
discrete gold particles. Direct cyanidation resulted in around 60 per cent recovery prior
to biological treatment. Despite relatively high weight losses caused to the chips as a
result of treatment with Phanerochaete chrysosporium gold recovery only increased 10
per cent after 4 weeks treatment compared to direct recovery without treatment.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Technikon, 2000.
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20112915_Martin_W_Mtech_Chemical_Eng_Eng_2000_20112915.pdf
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Thesis
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