Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of British Columbia
$70,000.00
Corrosion and stress corrosion cracking behavior of alloys in solutions relevant to gold thiosulfate leaching technology
FY 2013-14
Summary
Hydrometallurgical processes for metal extraction deal with waste solution treatment and significant research isdedicated to improving the processes in terms of environmental issues. Gold hydrometallurgical extraction is currentlybeing performed bycyanide leaching. Due to personnel safetyand environmental issues, there is significant interest for replacing the cyanide leaching agent with thiosulfate. Barrick Gold Corporation is interested in developing the new leaching agent for their cyanide gold leaching process. The assessment of corrosion behavior of materials in concentrated thiosulfate solutions is an obstacle since no previous studyhas been performed in this medium. The overall objective of this proposal is to provide data on corrosion behavior of construction materials in thiosulfate solutions relevant to gold leaching. The final practical goal will be to decide on the alloys with the best performance in terms of chemical stabilityand stress corrosion cracking. In fundamental level, this will appreciablycontribute to the corrosion science since there is no data on corrosion behavior in concentrated thiosulfate solutions. This is particularlyimportant because of 1) interactions of thiosulfate with the surface leading to generation of sulfur and consequentlypromoting stress corrosion cracking; and 2) solution chemistryand the complications resulting from buffering capacityof thiosulfate. The innovative electrochemical techniques to be used in this studywill contribute to close the corrosion science gap in this particular environment.A PhD student, a post doctoral fellow and four summer students will be trained in this research project. This studywill help understanding the corrosion phenomenon in highlyconcentrated thiosulfate solutions. It will greatlyhelp deciding the best construction materials for this medium, which will finallyaccelerate the transition from the current cyanide-based leaching plants to more environmentally-friendlythiosulfate plants.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
437892-2012
Name nom
Alfantazi, Akram
Department département
Materials Engineering
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2013
Competition year année de concours
2012
Award amount
70000
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
202
Area of application group en
Natural resources (economic aspects)
Area of application group fr
Ressources naturelles (aspects économiques)
Area of application en
Mineral resources ( prospecting, exploration, mining, extraction, processing)
Area of application fr
Ressources minérales (prospection, exploration, mines, extraction et préparation)
Research subject code
2000
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject en
Materials science and technology
Research subject fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Partie
2
Nb partie
4
Application title
Corrosion and stress corrosion cracking behavior of alloys in solutions relevant to gold thiosulfate leaching technology
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Hydrometallurgical processes for metal extraction deal with waste solution treatment and significant research isdedicated to improving the processes in terms of environmental issues. Gold hydrometallurgical extraction is currentlybeing performed bycyanide leaching. Due to personnel safetyand environmental issues, there is significant interest for replacing the cyanide leaching agent with thiosulfate. Barrick Gold Corporation is interested in developing the new leaching agent for their cyanide gold leaching process. The assessment of corrosion behavior of materials in concentrated thiosulfate solutions is an obstacle since no previous studyhas been performed in this medium. The overall objective of this proposal is to provide data on corrosion behavior of construction materials in thiosulfate solutions relevant to gold leaching. The final practical goal will be to decide on the alloys with the best performance in terms of chemical stabilityand stress corrosion cracking. In fundamental level, this will appreciablycontribute to the corrosion science since there is no data on corrosion behavior in concentrated thiosulfate solutions. This is particularlyimportant because of 1) interactions of thiosulfate with the surface leading to generation of sulfur and consequentlypromoting stress corrosion cracking; and 2) solution chemistryand the complications resulting from buffering capacityof thiosulfate. The innovative electrochemical techniques to be used in this studywill contribute to close the corrosion science gap in this particular environment.A PhD student, a post doctoral fellow and four summer students will be trained in this research project. This studywill help understanding the corrosion phenomenon in highlyconcentrated thiosulfate solutions. It will greatlyhelp deciding the best construction materials for this medium, which will finallyaccelerate the transition from the current cyanide-based leaching plants to more environmentally-friendlythiosulfate plants.
