| The removal of mercury from the processing streams of cyanidation circuits has become important in recent years. Although only 10 to 30% of the mercury is extracted from the ore along with the gold during cyanidation, its presence is still of great concern as it causes environmental problems throughout the concentration and refining processes.;In this investigation, a method of removing mercury from mercury cyanide solutions was studied. Specifically, these studies involved the use of a sulfur-based organic compound, potassium dimethyl dithiocarbamate (KDMDTC), to bring about the precipitation of mercury from both synthetic and commercial cyanide leach solutions.;Potassium dimethyl dithiocarbamate can selectively precipitate cyano complexes of mercury from gold cyanide solutions. KDMDTC does not affect the solubility of gold in cyanide solutions or the adsorption of gold onto activated carbon. Following precipitation, the precipitated mercury is removed from cyanide solutions with the addition of coagulants and flocculants. |
