chemical supply house.

For laboratory ex-

periments you will probably use the nitric
Saturated Saline & Nitric Acid acid provided from a scientific supply, which
is quite expensive compared to the side of
There are a number of leaches based upon salt quantity purchase. For example one bottle of
water but none have shown the kinetics that nitric acid (71bs) is, at todays cost, $64 and if
SSN demonstrates. In one leach the oxida- you bought a 55gal drum the same 71bs of
tion potential is created by a combination of acid would cost only $2.10. Salt may be
hydrochloric acid and ferric chloride; in an- bought at $ 1.10 per 501b bag at the hardware
other leach hydrochloric alone is used and in store, and $25 per ton in truck load lots. To
the third electrolytic are employed to create make it simple: check on the commercial
molecular chlorine. Pourbaix diagrams show prices in your locale when you calculate
that each of these leaches will dissolve gold; leach cost for production runs, In our area it
however, the diagrams will not show the could be as low as $0.07 per gallon.
kinetic behavior involved (speed of lixivia-
tion). This behavior can only be demonstrated COMPOUNDING THE LEACH
by testing and SSN wins hands down. We
will look into the behavior of this unique SSN is based upon saturated salt water which
leach one aspect at a time. means water with every bit of salt that it will
dissolve at normal temperature and pressure.
CHEMICALS NEEDED FOR The easiest way to create saturated brine
THIS LEACH water is to place approximately 3 lbs of rock
salt per gallon of water in a vessel and let it
You will need rock salt--not table salt, but dissolve. It helps to stir it occasionally. Just
rock salt like you use for water softeners or tc use ordinary tap water for this. Decant the
clear ice from the highway. You will neec brine water from any remaining salt (filter if
full strength nitric acid (65-70%). Both of there is suspended trash from the rock salt).
these may be purchased from an industrial This is the prime liquor and it is ready to go.
It is now time to choose a ratio of nitric acid apparently not accidental for we repeated the
to saturated brine water. The low end of the series and the results were the same.
reactions is 20 saturated salt water (SS) to 1
nitric acid (N). [SSN=20:1]. At the top end Temperature
we have a ratio of 7 SS to 1 N [SSN=7:1].

The top was determined by tests that show

when SSN=6:1 the amount of gold dissolved
is reduced. In other words there is a point at
which the chemistry turns negative.

When running these tests we attempted to

limit the variables to one and in the following
case that variable was acid ratio, A gold plate
that was 750 fine and an exposed surface area
of 2 square centimeters was used. The 18K
gold behaves more like a nugget than pure
gold and the set amount of surface defines the
other dimension. Temperature was held con-
stant at 31.1° C (88° F)

This graph shows the reaction of SSN with

respect to heat. The left column of figures
represents milligrams of gold leached from
one square centimeter, per hour of exposure.
Reading across the bottom of the graph each
number is equivalent to a ten degree centi-
The left hand column of the graph represents grade increase in working temperature. The
the milligrams of gold per square centimeter graph covers 10° C to 90° C. Eighty degrees
of gold surface per hour, at 31.1 * C. Across Centigrade (176° F) is the highest practical
the bottom is the ratio on nitric acid to Brine. temperature due to volatilization of fluids.
Starting at SSN=7:1 on the left and ending The upper arc represents SSN at 7:1 and the
with SSN =1:19 on the right. One cannot helplower arc equals SSN at 20:1. The increased
but note the sudden rise between 1:16 and chemical activity is a geometric progression
1:13 and again between 1:10 and 1:7. This is by two for each unit of 11 to 13 degrees C.
 Molality m Pressure p
mol / kg bar
N I.440E+00 N 1.OOOE+00
Na 6.000E+00 Na I.OOOE+00
Cl 6.O00E+0O CI 1OOOE+00

Pourbaix Diagrams (EpH Diagrams) are an excellent to the left of 0 represent one mole of acid per number,
means of visualizing the what, where, and when of in other words one mole of acid would represent a pH
chemical reactions. First it would be advantageous to of 0,01 and a second mole would take the pH to -1.0.
explain a few things for those readers who are not
familiar with these diagrams. The suffix following each chemical species denotes its
state of existence. When there is no parenthetic tetter
Down the Left side you will see the Eh listed as a the species is a solid crystal. Inmost EpH diagrams
voltage. Chemical species by chemical species, the following designations are used: (a) aqueous, (1)
element by element; these are the same as you would liquid {such as mercury], (g) gas, (none) solid.
find in the electromotive series as listed in CRC, or
some other reference book. Usually the diagram is Across the top the first element listed is the element
drawn showing from +2.00 to -2.00 volts but we wish of interest and the diagram is used to show its
to have a clear view of the area of interest so we ask behavior under the chemical, physical and thermal
the computer to draw only that area above 0.00 volts. situation as defined by the temperature (at the top
right) and pressure (at the bottom). By performing
Across the bottom pH is listed and again we have literally millions of calculations the diagram emerges
made a request that instead of the traditional 0 to 14 and we can see the status of (in this case) chlorine (as
listing we required an extra two molar on the acid side combined for SSN) at any pH and Eh combination.
and only pH 8 on the alkaline side. The minus We have darkened the small area at the upper left so
numbers that cationic chlorine will not be overlooked.
 Molality m Pressure p
mol / kg bar
CI 4.000E+00 CI I.OOOE+00
Na 6.000E+00 Na I.OOOE+00
N 1440E+00 N I.OOOE+00

Did you notice that there were chlorine atoms SSN leach solution contains in this instance
that were no longer associated with sodium about 1.44 molar nitric acid, therefore, you
would expect to see a pH 0 when it is mea-
chloride? If you did not go back and look at
sured. This is not the case. Actually the pH
the diagram again.
reads from pH 0.8 to pH 1.5. So far there is
The behavior of nitric acid (70%) in SSN is nothing spectacular in the EpH diagrams, so
the topic for this diagram. Nitrogen is there- let's introduce a metal into the solution.
fore the element of interest. We are again
working at 80°C so that the maximum advan-
tage of the chemistry will be well defined. Do
not misconstrue that last statement for the
reaction is the same at 25° C but the tempera-
ture difference will come into play in the next
diagram and if the temperature remains the
same there is less chance of some one misun-
derstanding.
 Molality m Pressure p
mol / kg bar
Au l.0OOE*0O Aul J.OO0E+00
N I.440E+00 N I.OOOE+00
Na 6.000E+00 Na I.OO0E+00
CI 1.O0OE+00 CI I.OOOE+00

Chlorine is still the prime element in this EpH

diagram, with gold as a secondary element.
The SSN leach will convert gold to sodium
aurochlorate NaAuCl4 (a) but the energy
required shows up at the conventional 1.002
volts. The maximum pH should not exceed
-0.8 for good economics.

This diagram gives a good comparison with

the first one on page 3, but it should be used
for comparison of chlorine behavior and not
the behavior of gold in SSN @ 80° C. For the
true behavior we must consider gold as the
primary element. Turn to pagei 6.
 Molality m
mol / kg
I 6.000E+00
1.440E+Q0
a 6.000E+00
Au I.000E+00
With gold as the primary element you will
note some changes from the previous dia-
gram. The most important is the drop in
required ORP (Eh). It was previously run-
ning 1.002 volts and has now dropped to
approximately 0.890 volts making it much
easier to take gold into solution.
Pressure p
bar
CI 1.0001+00
N 1000E+00
Na 1.000E+00
Au I.000E+00
This is also the point at which any farther
drop in pH will result in a conversion to
Au2Oj if the ORP remains high and natural
precipitation of elemental gold if the ORP has
dropped below the line.
From experience; the working window of
normal observed pH has been shadowed so
that you have an actual visual target to ob-
serve.
Before we continue with the description of
the leaching process we will take a brief look
at each of the platinum group metals that are
affected.
 Molality m Pressure p
mol / kg bar
CI 6.000E+00 CI I.000E+0O
N I.440E+00 N I.000E+00
Na 6.000E+00 Na L000E+00
Pd I.000E+00 Pd 1.00E+08
Palladium is by all means the most suscep-
tible of the noble metals that dissolve in SSN
leach. In fact the window in which we are
working occupies only a small portion of the
window of opportunity. This metal will
dissolve at any point with a pH below 5.8 and
any Eh greater than 380 millivolts.

While stripping catalytic converter beads the

palladium dissolves with effervescence, turn-
ing the solution a light yellow orange. There
is no necessity to spend money on heating a
leach when palladium is the only element
sought.
 Molality m Pressure p
mo! / kg bar
CI 6.000E+00 CI I.000E+00
N 1.440E+00 N I.000E+00
Na 6.000E+00 Na I.000E+00
Pt I.000E+00 Pt I.000E+00
Platinum shows a higher nobility than palla-
dium but takes less ORP in SSN leach than
gold. It needs only about 680 millivolts.
Again we have darkened the window through
which it appears that we are working. If the
Eh remains above 680 platinum will go into
solution clear up to a pH of 4.5. Should the
Eh drop below the 680 millivolt range and/or
the pH exceed 4.5 then the platinum will
precipitate.
 Molality m Pressure p
mol / kg bar
CI 6.000E+00 CI I.000E+00
N 1.440E+00 N I.000E+00
Na 6.000E+00 Na I.000E+00
Rh I.000E+00 Rh I.000E+00
Rhodium the most prized of the PGE's has a
much smaller active window but fortunately
it fits within the area in which SSN does its
best and most natural work. The ORP is not
as high as you would expect but the pH
window is quite narrow. Rhodium and alloys
of rhodium have leached without incident in
our experiments.
 Molality m Pressure p
mot / kg bar
CI 6.000E+00 CI I.000E+00
N I.440E+00 N I.000E+00
Na 6.000E+00 Na I.000E+00
Ir I.000E+00 Ir 1.000E+00
Iridium offers a very narrow window in
which to operate. In fact it is our opinion that
any iridium recovered will be happen chance
unless the circuit is specifically tailored for
that purpose.
 Tools needed There are exceptions, for instance any man-
ganese ore will generate the release of chlo-
rine gas (this is a common way of identifying
SSN is the first leach that we have encoun-
manganese ores).
tered which performs better as a stagnant
leach rather than an agitated leach. The best
results have been derived from a slow trickle A few magnetite samples have given off
top to bottom as one would expect from a nitrous oxide for a few minutes and then quit.
heap leach. The main difference is that you Remember if there are carbonates in the ore
would need weep hoses and a covered heap you will have to pre-leach it in dilute HC1.
so that the salt would not build up from Please do not expect any acid based leach to
evaporation. When working with one kilo- work with limestone or dolomite. Soils from
grams or less a straight forward stagnate dry lake beds may suffer Prag robbing if the
leach has given excellent results. clays are bentonitic in nature. If this is the fact
there is no leach known that will work.
A bucket , a barrel, a cattle tank, a plastic
mortar box, even a plastic lined trench, Liquid Volume
should do the job. For 4 kilo leaches we use
a two inch tower and allow the leach to move The amount of leach liquor to the amount of
through the ground ore by gravity. It is ore is of no great consequence, just as long as
continuously pumped to the top and allowed the solution covers the ore. This is true from
to circulate. raw ore to high concentrates. In fact if you
use a small surplus of liquid you should be
ALL TOOLS THAT ARE USED MUST able to draft it off and use it several times
BE; WOOD, PLASTIC, GLASS OR CE- before attempting recovery. Be sure to keep
RAMIC. SSN has dissolved every metal that the rinse water for recovery, it will serve as
we have tried thus far. SSN will destroy your dilution water as well as carrying some val-
ORP probes by dissolving the platinum side ues that were clinging to the rock surfaces.
of the probe. It will also destroy the inexpen-
sive hand held meters. They will lock on to RECOVERY
a reading and stay there, which gives you a
From our leach liquor we want to
false sense of knowing what is going on. To
date the best that we can offer is to keep track recover gold, palladium, platinum &
of the pH and take it for granted that the ORP rhodium (possibly iridium).
is high enough to do the job until we devise
a new way to measure it. We might add that Here is where the practical method collides
the chances of overloading the leach with head on with environmental considerations.
noble metals is rather remote for its capacity There are two chemicals that will give a
to retain values is tremendous. straightforward precipitation of the entire
group. Unfortunately they are top of the class
USE A HOOD cancer causing agents and if you order them
you will be obliged to account, in writing as
For safety sake always use a hood or leach in well as actually, for every milligram of the
the open where fumes may be dissipated. chemical used. Both chrome II sulfate and
Most of the ores that we have tested to date do vanadium II sulfate will precipitate all four
not give off noxious fumes. elements, along with the headaches.
Formic acid will precipitate gold, palladium When the solution is quiescent pour in the
& platinum but not the most valuable which zinc while still stirring it. Most of this zinc is
is rhodium. The only choice left is cementa- surplus but it is best to be sure that you collect
tion (exchange) with a metal lower upon the the total values from the solution.
electromotive series. Zinc is the best choice,
the least expensive and the easiest to use. Place the solution where it will be warmed
Traditionally lead sulfate is used so as to keep but preferably not boiled. ( This will hasten
the iron in a reduced state. (This keeps iron the chemical equilibrium and tighten the floe
from precipitating as Fe203-red iron oxide). that forms. Grant about thirty minutes for the
This chemical is also a social no-no for it is reaction to take place and then allow the floe
used by the druggies in making MET and if to settle. Carefully decant the spent solution
you order it the FBI will check you out six and discard it. Add 5% HC1 to dissolve the
ways from Sunday. This leaves us an old hydroxides that formed and part of the excess
fashion straightforward zinc and cleanup. zinc. Allow the material to settle and decant
the greater part of the acid water.
Start with the leach liquor diluted with the
rinse water (at least two to one rinse to Use 5% to 8% HC1 to dissolve the excess zinc
pregnant solution). Place it in a vessel and and unwanted metals. All that remain are
agitate it well. Check the pH of the solution. copper, mercury, gold, palladium, platinum,
It should be somewhere near pH 1.5. If it is rhodium and iridium. Filter the solution
not use 10% sodium hydroxide and bring it through a tight filter such as Whatman #50 or
between 1.5 and 2.0. a boro-silicate glass such as GF/A. Rinse the
filter well and wipe the walls of the precipi-
Weigh out five and one half grams of zinc tation vessel with apiece of damp filter paper
for each liter of solution (21gm/Gal.). For or a second GF/A filter.
assay or testing that wouldbe0.55gm/100ml.
Divide the zinc into three beakers: 1/4—1/4- In the absence of copper &/ or mercury the
--1/2. filter may be ashed in a lead boat or the GF/
A placed in lead foil. Fold the foil carefully
Add water to the first 1/4 of the zinc and stir and cupel it. The resulting bead will be noble
well. (This wets the zinc so that there is no metals. Should copper &/ or mercury be
gaseous insulation or bubble entrapment to present in small quantities the material, filter
insulate the zinc from contact with the preg- and all, should be placed in a crucible, mixed
nant solution). Using several short shots of in with flux (any kind) and fired to a button.
the well stirred zinc add this to the diluted Cupel the button.
leach liquor. Allow five to 10 seconds be-
tween each shot. High contaminations of copper and mercury
will necessitate that the prepipitates be dis-
Wet the second 1/4 batch of the zinc and solved in aqua regia neutralized to pH 7.5-8.0
repeat the last scenario in five to 10 second with sodium hydroxide filtered and acidified
shots. If red iron oxide forms just ignore it. with a small amount of hydrochloric acid.
Treat this solution as you would any aqua
The final l/2ofthezinc should be wetted and regia solution.
time allowed for any remaining efferves- #
cence to subside within the leach liquor. Only sodium hydroxide will drop copper,