INRTU and IrICh SB RAS Patented Reagent to Increase Gold Recovery from Ore
Employees of INRTU and the A.E. Favorsky Irkutsk Institute of Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IrICh SB RAS) have patented a collector reagent for the flotation beneficiation of gold-bearing ores. A composition containing this new substance can increase the percentage of precious metal extraction. The main reagent was synthesized as part of the Priority 2030 Program.
According to Associate Professor Aleksandr Burdonov, Head of the Flotation and Reagents Chemistry Laboratory, the university and the academic institute obtain collector reagents for the beneficiation of metal ores, non-metallic minerals, rare-earth metals, and man-made raw materials.
Specialists from IrICh SB RAS synthesize and transfer substances to INRTU for technological research. Testing makes it possible to determine the optimal compound concentration, the reagent scheme, and the ability of substances to adhere to minerals while interaction with others agents.
“Over the past three years, the research group has synthesized more than 40 compounds. The most recent compound for which we received a patent is 2-butyl-2-ethylpropane-1,3-diol xanthate. This reagent is used as an additional heteropolar collector, presented in the patent with one of the common frothing agents. This composition is as effective as a previously obtained set of compounds,” said Aleksandr Burdonov.
Associate Professor Viacheslav Barakhtenko, INRTU students and postgraduates, including Liliya Vasilyeva, Elena Maksimova, Tatyana Sakhabutdinova, and scientific staff from IrICh SB RAS Igor Rozentsveig, Ekaterina Verochkina, Nadezhda Vchislo, and Victoria Fedoseeva, are participating in the project.
Aleksandr Burdonov considers the synthesis of reagent compositions based on industrial production products to be a promising direction:
“We focused on deriving compounds from the primary raw materials of large-tonnage chemical enterprises. We will test new compounds in the beneficiation of metals, coal, and fertilizers.
In addition, together with scientists from China, we are searching for solutions for the development of reagents for the flotation beneficiation of rare-earth metals. The goal is to submit a joint application for a Russian Science Foundation grant.
I should note that Institute ‘TOMS’ provides great advisory support for these initiative-based directions. Colleagues conduct tests at their research sites and confirm the effectiveness of the reagents”.
