A conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (PGMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate
This research proposes a new conceptual process to economically extract platinum group metals (PGMs), and as a secondary aim, base metals (BMs) from a low-grade concentrate originating from typical PGM concentrator plants. Slurry made from the concentrate was coated onto granite pebbles and packed i...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier Science BV
2011
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47299 |
| _version_ | 1848757795798646784 |
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| author | Mwase, J. Petersen, J. Eksteen, Jacques |
| author_facet | Mwase, J. Petersen, J. Eksteen, Jacques |
| author_sort | Mwase, J. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This research proposes a new conceptual process to economically extract platinum group metals (PGMs), and as a secondary aim, base metals (BMs) from a low-grade concentrate originating from typical PGM concentrator plants. Slurry made from the concentrate was coated onto granite pebbles and packed into a column, in which it was bioleached with a mixed culture of thermophiles and mesophiles at 65 °C. After 30 days the extractions achieved were 52% copper, 95% nickel and 85% cobalt. The residual concentrate material was subsequently subjected to a cyanide leach also in a packed column operating at a room temperature of 23 °C. After 21 days 20.3% Pt, 87% Pd and 46% Rh were extracted. Using these results and projected extractions over longer operating times, a conceptual flowsheet was proposed for a possible process route to recover PGM values circumventing the problematic smelter route for this material. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:33:47Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-47299 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:33:47Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Elsevier Science BV |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-472992018-03-29T09:07:09Z A conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (PGMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate Mwase, J. Petersen, J. Eksteen, Jacques Cyanide Bioleaching PGMs Low-grade ore concentrate Heap leaching Thermophiles This research proposes a new conceptual process to economically extract platinum group metals (PGMs), and as a secondary aim, base metals (BMs) from a low-grade concentrate originating from typical PGM concentrator plants. Slurry made from the concentrate was coated onto granite pebbles and packed into a column, in which it was bioleached with a mixed culture of thermophiles and mesophiles at 65 °C. After 30 days the extractions achieved were 52% copper, 95% nickel and 85% cobalt. The residual concentrate material was subsequently subjected to a cyanide leach also in a packed column operating at a room temperature of 23 °C. After 21 days 20.3% Pt, 87% Pd and 46% Rh were extracted. Using these results and projected extractions over longer operating times, a conceptual flowsheet was proposed for a possible process route to recover PGM values circumventing the problematic smelter route for this material. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47299 10.1016/j.hydromet.2011.11.012 Elsevier Science BV restricted |
| spellingShingle | Cyanide Bioleaching PGMs Low-grade ore concentrate Heap leaching Thermophiles Mwase, J. Petersen, J. Eksteen, Jacques A conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (PGMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate |
| title | A conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (PGMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate |
| title_full | A conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (PGMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate |
| title_fullStr | A conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (PGMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate |
| title_full_unstemmed | A conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (PGMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate |
| title_short | A conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (PGMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate |
| title_sort | conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (pgms) from a low-grade ore concentrate |
| topic | Cyanide Bioleaching PGMs Low-grade ore concentrate Heap leaching Thermophiles |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47299 |