Mining and Mineral Processing

Our oxygen generation units provide high purity oxygen and will vary based upon the needs of the operation. PCI also works with many of the injector equipment companies so that the most efficient systems are installed at the customer’s site.

Oxygen Applications in Mining and Mineral Processing Industries:

• Gold, Silver, and Zinc Bio Leaching
  • Increases metal recovery.
  • Increases diluted oxygen in stirred tank reactors.
  • Reduces the energy consumption for the system.
  • Removes nitrogen present in the air, useless for the process.
  • Reduces residence time per batch.
  • Short-term return on investment.
• Cyanide Destruction
• Process Wastewater Treatment
• Oxygen Enrichment in High Altitude Mining Camps

High levels of dissolved oxygen are essential to the gold/silver mining industry’s leaching process.

The most important area where oxygen can be used to improve productivity and save energy in a gold or silver mine is the leaching circuit (example below).

4Au(s) + 8NaCN(aq) + O2 + 2H2O ⇒ 4NaAu(CN)2(aq) + 4NaOH(aq)

• Gold dissolution by cyanide requires oxygen.
• Rate of gold dissolution is directly proportional to the dissolved oxygen (DO) level in the pulp.

Depending on the availability of air or oxygen, air or oxygen injection is more economical than adding calcium or hydrogen peroxide to increase slurry DO. Oxygen consumption rates vary drastically with the ore feed sulfur content.

Three common methods of increasing DO levels include peroxide, air injection, or oxygen injection. For example, calcium or hydrogen peroxide may be added which significantly increases slurry DO but this method has a very high operating cost. Air or oxygen injection is more economical depending on the availability of the air or oxygen. Oxygen consumption rates vary drastically with the ore feed sulfur content.

OXYGEN GENERATOR MODELS