Version 1
: Received: 7 November 2024 / Approved: 8 November 2024 / Online: 8 November 2024 (11:33:05 CET)
How to cite:
Moosavi-Khoonsari, E.; Tripathi, N. Copper Anode Slime Processing with a Focus on Gold Recovery: A Review of Traditional and Recent Technologies. Preprints2024, 2024110607. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0607.v1
Moosavi-Khoonsari, E.; Tripathi, N. Copper Anode Slime Processing with a Focus on Gold Recovery: A Review of Traditional and Recent Technologies. Preprints 2024, 2024110607. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0607.v1
Moosavi-Khoonsari, E.; Tripathi, N. Copper Anode Slime Processing with a Focus on Gold Recovery: A Review of Traditional and Recent Technologies. Preprints2024, 2024110607. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0607.v1
APA Style
Moosavi-Khoonsari, E., & Tripathi, N. (2024). Copper Anode Slime Processing with a Focus on Gold Recovery: A Review of Traditional and Recent Technologies. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0607.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Moosavi-Khoonsari, E. and Nagendra Tripathi. 2024 "Copper Anode Slime Processing with a Focus on Gold Recovery: A Review of Traditional and Recent Technologies" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0607.v1
Abstract
Copper anode slime (CAS) contains high concentrations of precious metals, particularly gold, which can reach up to 11 wt%. During copper anode electrorefining, 5-10 kg of CAS is generated per ton of copper cathode. Processing CAS is crucial for economic reasons, as gold significantly contributes to revenue for both miners and custom copper smelters. This paper provides a comprehensive review of industrial processes and technologies for CAS treatment, with a focus on gold recovery. It documents traditional and recent trends and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of existing methods. Key factors affecting revenue, such as gold production lead time, in-process inventory, and first-pass recovery rate, are discussed to mitigate losses in fluctuating gold markets. CAS processing routes are categorized into two main groups: traditional hybrid routes (involving hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and electrorefining/electrowinning) and rather recent purely hydrometallurgical routes. Traditional methods can take up to 45 days, with gold recovery occurring late in the process and losses arising in anode, cathode, electrolyte, or slag. In contrast, purely hydrometallurgical routes have total processing times of 7-8 days, achieve early gold recovery, and can attain first-pass recovery rates as high as 99%. These findings indicate that purely hydrometallurgical routes outperform traditional hybrid methods. This paper aims to serve as a guideline for industrial CAS processing, assisting custom copper smelters in navigating challenging market conditions marked by low treatment and refining charges, with an emphasis on enhancing gold recovery to promote sustainability.
Keywords
copper anode slime; gold recovery; processing routes; furnace technologies; economic impact; environmental considerations; custom copper smelters; sustainable metal production
Subject
Chemistry and Materials Science, Materials Science and Technology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
