Lime in Flotation and Recovery Processes

Both quicklime and hydrated lime are widely used in the flotation and hydrometallurgical processes to aid the recovery of valuable minerals and metals including gold, silver, copper, zinc, nickel and lead-bearing ores.

Cuivre

Lime is used extensively in the recovery of gold and silver. Run-of-mine, milled, autoclaved or roasted ores are combined with lime and a cyanide solution. The cyanide dissolves the gold and silver. Lime is vital to maintain the correct pH to keep cyanide in solution keeping it in the liquid phase and preventing the formation of dangerous hydrogen cyanide gas and associated loss into the atmosphere.

There is nuance and skill involved in using lime to best effect and Graymont's technical know-how can assist customers to define optimum lime slaking and mixing solutions to suit their needs.

Please contact our sales team to enquire about our lime products for flotation and recovery processes. 

Did you know?

There are three distinct types of limestone, defined by their magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) concentrations. These types are Dolomitic (35 to 46% MgCO3), Magnesian (5 to 35% MgCO3) and High calcium (less than 5% MgCO3).