Abstract

CHANG CARDONA, Antonio R.; MERENCIO GUEVARA, Pedro L.  and  GUERRA GONZALEZ, Yosbel. Considerations about the aeration management of the leaching of the Caron process at Punta Gorda plant, Cuba. RTQ [online]. 2019, vol.39, n.1, pp. 183-206. ISSN 2224-6185.

The present experimental work was carried out at scale of Demonstrative Unit of Production (UDP) in the Leaching Plant in Punta Gorda, Cuba with the objective of proving the implementation of the specific velocity of aeration (Qa), in m3/(t·min) starting from the statistical mathematical model of the real residence time of the pulp in function of the pulp flow feeded to each miniseries, based on the specific volume of air- Va- with the purpose of analyzing the tendencies of the Ni and Co leached (Lix Ni and Co). For the studied experimental conditions: a methodology of operational implementation of the new parameter- Qa -was established; the graphic tendencies of Lix Ni and Co obtained showed: that these diminish when increasing Qa; while that these increase when increasing the Va until values around 150 m3/t, after the which, these spread to be stabilized or to diminish; The results of the coefficients of par correlation of the Lix Ni and Co demonstrated that both leached increase, when increasing the values of: the rate of concentrations - R (NH3/CO2) -, the mineral's numeral (NoMin), the concentration of NH3 and the Va, although this last can be controverted for the LixCo, while those Lix Ni and Co diminishes with the increase of Qa and the rate of mass flows- R (L/S) in the in the contacts tanks. A calculation tool was elaborated in EXCEL to manage with flexibility the volumetric flows of air for each turbo aerator, on the base of the wished values of the Va and Qa, that permit to change them in function of the operational conditions of the Plant.

Keywords : Process "Caron "; ammonia - carbonate leaching; aeration regimen.

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