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    Merrill Crowe Catalogo

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    Merrill Crowe Catalogo

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    Ruben Eduardo Charcape Jimenez
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    Merrill Crowe Catalogo (1)

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    5 views24 pages

    Merrill Crowe Catalogo

    Uploaded by

    Ruben Eduardo Charcape Jimenez

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    is She | | MERRILL-CROWE PROCESS | === SIMULTANEOUS PRE-COAT CLARIFICATION DE-AERATION PRECIPITATION LGW (0 FZ CABLE ADDRESS “LURCO” To Whom Ft May. Concern. The Merrill-Crowe Precipitation Process and Apparatus used for the Simultaneous Clarification, De-aera- tion aud Precipitation of Cyanide So- lutions are protected by Patents and pending Patent Applications owned byT he Merrill Company in the United States and in Foreign Countries, FOREWORD In preparing this Catalog we have endeavored to describe the essential features of the Merrill-Crowe Process and apparatus used for the Simultaneous Clarification, Oe-aeration and Precipitation of cy- anide solutions. Limited space has prevented a full description of all of the details involved but we P) have pointed out the applications of the various pes of equipment and the advantages to be expected, and where practical have included the essential operating features. f The MerrillCrowe Precipitation Process, embody- ing the Simultaneous steps of Pro-Coat Clarifica- tion, De-aeration and Precipitation for therecovery of gold and silver from cyanide solutions is now almost universally used throughout the world. it appears in the flow sheets of all new mills and in addition has been adopted by most of the older plants, effecting substantial savings in labor and b ME MERRILL COMPANY + SAN reagent cost, and resulting in more efficient pre- cipitation and higher grade bullion. The descrip~ tion which follows indicates how these results aro obtained with the several differont types of equipment. Enquiries and requests for quotations should spec- ify the location of property, the nature and ton- nage of the material to be cyanided, the tonnage of solution to be precipitated daily, and whether the values to be recovered are principally gold or silver; also whether appreciable amounts of copper are likely to be present in tho solution, Where available, a drawing showing the general arrange- ment of the mill in plan and profile will enable us to suggest the most suitable form of equipment. Charges for Process Rights and Equipment are based upon the above figures, and prices and esti- mates will be furnished promptly upon reccipt of the necessary information, FRANCISCO The world’s largest precipitation Pant. Ten Merri-Crowe Vacuum Filter waits bestlled at Rama joule, ond banding abtrosimately 20,000 toms of solution daly roasting ond cyamidotinn, wih saad le fationfltration of lime Dreciptated by the Mer‘illcrowe Proce, (4) | | ee In modern milling processes, cyanidation may be prac d plant, grinding in eyenide solution ficed in a variety of ways. Most frequently ancountor is the I slime’ followed by thickening, continuous series agitation and continuous slime filtration, ithor single or double stag: depending upon ore grade, Of less frequent application ja the practi of separating the more sandy portions of the ore for gr ity leaching asin the eldor plants on the Rand, in the Mysore field in India, and at the Homestake auth Dakota, where the necessity for thorough air coaation of certain constituents of the ore condor this treatmont particularly affective. If amenable to flotation, the ore may be ground in water and floated, with subso- at quent eyani Melntyre and Pamour \dation of the flotation concentrate only, Ontario, and in Australia wher the concentrates are roasted prior fo cyaniding. Howe ever, not many gold ores will yield a satisfactory tailing by flotation alone and consequently both tailing and con- contrates are separately cyenided. In all of the above flow sheets, where the ore contains appreciable amounts* of foo geld, various de ‘ued to recover as much in Yao grinding as possible of the met j hence the use of blantet strakos, riffle, traps or figs in many gold vil, However, for precipitating or recovering the metallic velues from cyanide solutions, no method has yet bot (5) MERRILL- TANEOUS CLARIFICATION -PRECIPITATION PROCESS CROWE found 1o compote successfully with the Merrll:Crowe Process in which the metals are procipitated ontine dust immediately following ultaneous Pro-Coat Clarifica- fion and Do-ceration, with substantially complote moval of suspended tolids and colloidal precipitates, of dissolved oxygen. In Africa and Indi a few of the older mills still use zing shavings for the procipitation of gold but in Afri pare ticularly, these plants 0 graduslly changing over to the more effective Morrll‘Crowe Process. Sodium sulphide precipitation of silver at Cobalt, On- fario, and charcoal precipitation of gold at Youan Australie booth used successfully for a timo but did not prove applicable elsowhore. Precipitation of silver on aluminum dust was also practiced at Cobalt but while attempted at soveral othor large plants in Marico and South America, .as discontinued owing to difficulties in filtering and molting, caused by the formation of calcium aluminate in the solutions. Electrical precipitation ha boon ropestedly tried but power and operating costs are arron" tail solution cannot be ob- The efficiont procipitation of cyanide solutions with zine dust is depondent upon two essential proliminary oF con ditioning steps, namoly, thorough clarification and the omaval of dissolved oxygen. By thorough el. meant not merely removal of suspended ore slimes, such as are plainly visible to the naked eye, but also the more harmful colloidel hydretes of aluminum, iron and mag: nesium, which form and precipitate out in most pregnant selutions, particularly on standing for any appreciable length of time. To remove such del2terious solids the Mertil:Crowe Process uses submerged vacuumleafilters of improved design ond equipment for Pre-Coating the filter surfaces with diatomaccous silica. The latter is a comparatively recent development and is described in more detail on page 9. The oullet of the clarifying filer is connected directly to the Crowe De-aerating tower, so that immediately after thorough clarification and partial de-aeration, the solution enters the main vacuum cham- ber, where the removal of oxygen is completed. The chemical reaction involved when gold is precipitated by metalic zines essentially one of reduction by nascent hydrogen which is formed by the action of alkali cyanide upor the zinc. Most eyanide solutions resulting from the: ‘coatment of ores contain appreciable amounts of dis solved oxygen and if this oxygen were allowed to it would immediately combine with the evolved hydro- gen, increasing the consumption of zine and cyanide with the formation of calcium zincate and other insoluble compounds of ine and cyanide which seriously interfere with precipitation. The whole operation of precipitation and subsequent recovery of the precipitated metals is simplified and rendered more efficiont by the simple expedient of mechanically romoving this interfering ele- mont. In the MerzilkCrows Pracass this is accomplished by passing the solution through suitable towers in which the solution is exposed in thin films to the action of a high ‘vacuum. The decreased solubility of oxygen at low abso lute pressure causes rapid evaporation of the oxygen, and cyanide solutions thus treated will wally contain no more than traces of oxygen. Cla Immediately followi tion and the removal of free oxygen, the solution is contacted with finely divided metallic zine, under conditions which preclude the ro- absorption of oxygen. This rosultsin maximum afficieney of the precipitant, since no hydrogen is wastefully con- sumed in combining with dissolved oxygen. The mixture Merrill «Crowe Precipitation alt at the tailings plant of he Kewnedy Mining end Mille Ing Con Jackson, California ‘Simultaneous Clarification Decseration and Precipitation cawipment, with Bap Type Fle ters handles the salution re salting from the treatment of “bprovimately 1000 tens of Comboned td and shims tale ings daly Golden Queen Mil, Mo Californias This thoroughly modern all eyenidation plant bara rtted capacity of from 350 to 400 tons of are Der dy, aid the cquibment includes a MerelleCrow ltancons Clarifeation PreciPation Unit witb a daily capacity of 1000 fons af solution of precipitated metals and zinc dust is collected on suitable filter, 10 designed that a uniform layer of pre- cipitant is deposited over the whole filler surface, where: by each particle of solution is brought into intimate and equal contact with the precipitant. The accumlated precipitate of gold and silver is periodically removed for meliing and refiring ard the pracipitated or barren sol: tion is roturnad for re-use in the miling process. ‘As distinguished from zine shavings precipitotion, «com: plete recovery of the precipitated values is made af each clean-up. With gold solutions, the values returned to the botes with the wathed shavings usualy approximate one- half of the gold cleaned up; with silver the absorption in the boxes is fess but in neither case can it be prevented without excessive consumption of zine and chemicals The loss in interest on values thus continually held bock is 2 direct charge against the old shavings process. All operators will, of course, appreciate the advantages of the complete clean-up of the bdereil-Crowe Process a5 a means of checking bullion production against ore and solution assays. Frequent and complete clean-ups are of (7) course particularly desirable in mills which handle custom ore. The compactness and flexibility of the plant effects 4a marked saving in floor space and building constuction and in addition, in the colder countries such as Northern Canada, a considerable economy in heating during the winter months. The Merril-Crowe Precipitation Process is now almost universally used in Cyanide plants throughout the world Whether for the treatment of silver ores in Mes 0, for ‘gol ores in the rapidly developing districts of Canada, oF on the Rend, the most important gold mining area of ‘he world, the Process will be found in operation. In the latter district, the total amount of solution precipitated by the MerrillCrowe Process, approximates 200,000, tons per day. One mill, endfontein, accounts for 20,000 fons of this solution. In many of the older plants, zine ‘shavings bores have been dismantled to be replaced with the Merril-Crowe Process, and in designing new plants metallurgists on the Rend, and in fact throughout the world, have, almost without exception, embadied it in their flow sheets, era por Oe ” | scaowe Ec va rer rors Teceredee eta ad Barbi BND ea Se ae ocd r reread MERRILL-CROWE Simultaneous Pre-Coat Clarification-Precipitation TYPES OF EQUIPMENT USED To users of the MeriliCrowe Process we offer three different types of equipment. the choies of which is de- pendent upon the sizeof the plant, that is, upon the for nage of solution hendled daily, upon the neture and quantity of the motale to be procipitated, and, lasly, upon the preference of the individual operator. General arrangement ofthe miling plant may aso be a determin: ing factor, horeis some variation in frst cost ofthe three types but all are substantially equal in operating costs and in metallurgical efficiency. (8) In each type, the equipment used for Simultaneous Pre- Coat Clarification and De-aeration is identical as will be noted in the drawings and descriptions which follow. It is only in the filters used for collecting the precipitate that the three types diffor. Each type takes its name from the precipitate filler used, that is, “Filter Press Type,” "Bag Filter Type" and "Vacuum Leef Filter Type. ‘The Filter Prose Type has the most general application and with the recently developed improvements in Clari- fication is preferred by most operators. Except for small plants the cost of the Press Type is not appreciably greater than the Bag Type and is considerably lots than {for the Vacuum Leaf Type, which is used principally in large plants or under exceptional conditions where the largor filter area provided is particularly advantageous. & ©: FILTER PRESS TYPE The equipment used for the Simultancous Clarification, De-aeration and Precipitation of eyanide solutions, using Pre-Coated elart fying leaves, and filter presses for collecting the precipitate, i shown in Drawings No.1 and No. 2, which represent two of the ar- rangemeuts most frequently resed. In each cose, a single, liquid-sealed contrifugal pump ie used to effect the passage of the solution through the successive steps of clarification, de-acration and preci fation. The clarifying tank i kept filled to a constant level with unclarified gold-bearing solution, the inflow to the tank being controlled by an automatic float valve as Drawing No. I. Alternatively, 8 shallower tank may be used with provision for eanstant overflow. This overflow may be surplus primary thickener overflow going to mill forage. or solution from the prognant storage tank pumped to the claifier with wurplus ovorflow returned to storage. Suspended in the clarifying tank are the vac~ uum clarifying leaves with outlets connected to « mani- {old which in turn is connectod fo the top of tho vertical Crowe vacuum tower in which final de-aeration of the solution is effected. Rectangular steel clarifying tanks have now come into quite general use and these tanks are built with 2 sop- arate compartment in which the individual filter ele ments are pre-coated with a thin layer of diatomaceous silica as 2 filter a The filler leaf, aftor washing, is ime meried in the pre-coating compartment, to which has been added a small amount of the pre-coafing material, opt in agi flexible hose, the leaf is attached to the suction side of a small self priming centrifugal pump, which withdraws sslution through the leaf, depositing the filter aid on the fiter fabric, and returning the effluent to the tank. After pre-coating, the leaf is lifted, roturned to its operating petition in the clarifying tank, and again connected to tion with campressed air. By means of @ the discharge manifold. Throughout the transfer and re-immersion continuous vacuum i maintained on the leaf so that tho layer of filler aid is not detached or dis. turbed, and aftor ra-immersion, citeuasion through the leafis continued until the effluent is perfectly clear, when tho valve leading to the manifold is opened and roguler operation resumed. Thus any imperfection in clarification is readily detected and solution is not passed on Yo the subsequent steps of de-aeration and pracipitation until perfect clarity assured, Inflow of solution to the Crowe tower and consoquenly the solution level in the tower, is controlled by an autor matic float valve. Within the tower the solution passos down over suitable grids which brook up the flow into small streams and film, thus offecting tho substantially complete removal of dissolved oxygon. The top of the de-aorating tower is connected with a dry vacuum pump which maintains @ high vacuum within the tower and rae movos the air released from the solution. Clarif arated solution , do withdrawn from the bottom of the towor by 2 single stage contrifugal pump, Tiquid-vvoled 40 prevent co-eniry of air through the pump gland. A bolt type din. charges a regulated amount of zine dust into @ mixing cone supplied with suitable solution, preferably barren sslution from a small float controlled steady heed tank, A liquid reagont feeder supplies @ continuous and unie form foed of soluble load salt, proferably load nitra for activating the zine. This foedar may be positioned to discharge into o stoady heed tank or fo the clarifying ine Seeder with integral motor dri tank, the choice boing govorned by the nature of the (9) solution to be procipitatad. Drawing No. 2 shows the activated sine amulicn being forced into the main solution line entering the pross by ‘moans of a small triplex pump. Alternativaly, as in Drawe ing No. 1, the outlat of the emulsion cone is controlled by a mechanically oporated valve by which zine emuliion, at regular intervals, is introduced directly into the suc- tion of the main solution pump and thence into the precipitation press. The filter presses now used in tho MertilCrowe Procoss aie of canventional design with square containers and with cloted discharge, which not only aveids splash and frequent discharge cock renewals but also makes it por sible to elovate the barren solution several foot above the level of the press and so discharge directly into @ barron n storaga tank placed on the same levol, solut peak hada asnaioeabehean Peri steals Bl td {$0} ee eee eee PCG tt aa Day Bort es < aac or | eras erie ne ae eae BAG FILTER TYPE awing No. 3 thows the usual arrangement of equipment in a Merril-Crowe Plant with Pro-Coat Simultaneous Clarification-Preclpitation using Bag Type pre: cipitate fillors. These filters are particularly suitable where small solution tonnages are handlod. With the recently developed Fitzgerald Bag Head the bag units are quickly assembled and with the duplicate set of heads provided, clean-up is effected with minimum loss of Hime, The bags are contained in a steel tank, pro vided with a locked cover to prevent tampering or theft, and a centrifugal pump with automatic float control elovates the precipitated solution tothe barren solu tion storage. Alternatively, the barron solution may gravitate to the storage tank Clean-up is made by emptying the tank, draining and blowing the bags with com pressed air, and then disconnecting the bags and camoving the inner filters con- taining the precipitate, which is dried, fluxed and melted in the usual way. \ A (yy “*Merrill-Crowe Precipitation Plant ENT naa dl ed SOUTION vacuum ADRAWING Wo.34 coed mee ad co eee Pen So ay te Bod General arrangement of @ Vacuum Leaf Type plant is shown in Drawing No. 4. Clarified, de-aerated solution, withdrawn from the Crowe receiver by the liquid- sealed centrifugal pump, discharges into @ steady head tank, to which is aso added zine from the precipitant feeder. The mix ture of solution and precipitant enters the precipitation tank and is continuously cir culated over the submerged vacuum fier leaves, the barren solution being with- drawn through the leaves by a centrifugal pump which in turn discharges to a suit. able barren solution storage tank. Access to the precipitation tank is only required at a cleanup and, therefore, the tonk is provided with a locked cover of heavy screen to prevent theft. When clean-up is made, the precipitation tank is emptied and the precipitate washed from the leaves and transferred by pump to a sot- fling tank. The bulk of the solution is de- canted and returned to the precipitation circuit after which the sattled precipitate 1s transterred to a small filer press for dry- ing. Owing to the constant circulation maintained in o precipitate filler of this type, the filter surfaces are coated with a very uniform layer of precipitant which of course results in the highest posible prociptating efficiency. Without excep: fion this is the equipment used in all of the recently built cyanide plants on the Rand, and many similar installations have bboen made in other parts of the world It is particularly suitable for large plants, especialy where, as on the Rand. the gold precipitate is acid treated: also where considerable bulk of silver precipitate ie tobe handled. {tay DEAPRATING TOWER ? “MERRILLITE” Zinc Dust Precipitant With the high efficiency now developed by the Merril Crowe Precipitation Process, resulting in extremely smal quantities of zine used to precipitate the metals from solutions, it has become increasingly important to use a ine dust af high metalic content ‘and uniformity. Also the mesh of tine dust should be as fine os practicable in order to obtain the maximum surface contact be. ‘tween the tine and the solution. We know of no xine dust that ful: fills these requirements as satis: Factorily as that manufactured by The Alloys Company, a subsid- jary of the Merrill Company. Constant research is maintained in an endeavor to supply precip Hants best suited for use with the Merril-Crowe Process. This sine dust is produced in San Francisco and ie mar- keted under the trade-mark "Mezilite.” Many of the principal eyanide plants of Canada, the United States, Mexico and other parts of the world use this xine dust coxclusively with entirely satisfac: tory rosults, and we have no hes- itaney in giving our unqualified recommendation to this product for use with the Merrill Crowe Process. In particular we advise its use im the inilial operation of all new plants, because we know that MERRILLITE, being of well established uniformity and un- questioned high efficiency, will give dependable precipitation, thus avoiding the possibility of variations which may result from ne the wie of other brands of tine Es} duit. ‘Above is shown the New Liquid Reagent Feeder used in Brelow are shown two sizes of the Soaled Pumps used to the MorilCrowe Process for feeding lead nitrate or withdraw de-gorated soltion from the Crowe Vacuum J? acetate. Also to supply @ uniform strang cyanide drip Receiver. These are supplied in several different types when needed. Built of redwood and stainless steal with and in various sizes dependent upan the tonnage of solu- nothing to rust or wear out and supplied with er without _tian to be handled, reduction moter drive, LugUIa SEALED CENTRIFUGAL PuMes (tay MERRILL-CROWE PRECIPITATION PROCESS ° Details of Operation Efficient precipitation of gold and silvar is dependent upon tha proper control of certain physical and chemical properties of the solution, The mest important of these properties acelisted below. SUSPENDED SOLIDS, such as ore slime and pro- ipitater af calcium carbonate, with hydrates of aluminum, magnesium and iron, present in the pregnant solution before clarification. These com- bined solids should be completely romoved by offi- Giant clarification, SUSPENDED PRECIPITATES, as above defined, which may continue to forms ia the solution AFTER clarification. This formation occurs slowly and is almost completely prevented by clarifying and pro= sting simuttanously. . SCALE FORMING COMPOUNDS,

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