(300b) Dissolution Kinetics of Witwatersrand Far West Rand Gold Ore in Sodium Cyanide Leaching

A study on the dissolution kinetics of gold ore in a solution of NaCN has been undertaken. The dissolution kinetics of the gold was found to depend on the stirring rate, reaction temperature, particle diameter and the leachant concentration. The dissolution rate increase as the stirring rate, reaction temperature and leachant concentration increases and decreases with an increase in particle size.  The activation energy of ~3 kcal/mol was obtained for the dissolution, and it suggests diffusion model for leaching reaction. Further, the linear relationship between the rate constant and there reciprocal of square of particle size supports the fact that gold dissolution of the process is diffusion controlled.