GOLD LEACHING BY USE OF AN N,N′-DISUBSTITUTED THIOUREA

Abstract

A novel reagent for gold leaching was synthesized and the leaching conditions investigated. The reagent, 1-phenyl-2-thio-3-(2-hydroxyethyl) urea, dissolved gold at relatively high yields (>95%) in the presence of an oxidant (Fe(III)) in a sulfuric acid solution at pH 0.9–1.2 at room temperature. The effects of certain leaching parameters, such as working pH, reagent-Au mol ratio, oxidant-Au mol ratio, contact time, and temperature are discussed.

Keywords:

• Gold leaching
• Thioureation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project has been partly submitted by A. Alper Aydin and has been awarded by the Foundation of Istanbul Chamber of Industry (May 1998).

This project was supported by the Environmental Research Center of Marmara University, Istanbul.