Novel technology on preparation of double-layered pellets for sulfur and arsenic-bearing gold concentrates

Abstract

Double-layered pellet (DLP) roasting is a novel pretreatment method for sulfur and arsenic-bearing gold concentrates. In this process, preparation of DLPs is a fundamental step which is required to produce DLPs with favorable mechanical strength and thermal stability. Studies were carried out to investigate the affecting factors and conditions on the preparation and properties of DLPs. The results show that moisture content has significant influence on DLPs preparation. With the increase of moisture content in the range of no more than 9.8%, drop resistance and compressive strength of green DLPs are raised and the pelletizing dynamics is improved accordingly. The optimum conditions are determined as moisture content of 9.8%, coating time of 14–16 min, drying temperature <80 °C and drying gas velocity <1.2 m/s. When DLPs prepared under these conditions are roasted at 600 °C for 1 h, favorable removal and solidifying rates can be obtained, in which the removal rates of arsenic and sulfur are 94.38% and 82.55%, and the solidifying rates of arsenic and sulfur reach 99.62% and 99.79%, respectively. These results promise industrial application of DLP roasting.

Keywords

sulfur and arsenic-bearing gold ores / double-layered pellets / pelletizing / gold ores / pretreatment / roasting

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