| Abstract Scope |
In this study, the effect of thiourea (CH₄N₂S) concentration, ferric ion (Fe³⁺) concentration, and pH on the leaching of a refractory mineral (pyrargyrite) was evaluated using an acidic system based on ferric sulfate (Fe₂(SO₄)₃) as the oxidizing agent. Thiourea concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 0.0132 M, while Fe³⁺ concentrations varied between 0.0250 and 0.0895 M, corresponding to 5, 10.74, and 17.90 g/L of Fe₂(SO₄)₃, respectively. The pH conditions investigated ranged from 1.0 to 2.0. The highest silver dissolution was observed at a thiourea concentration of 0.1 M (16.6 ppm), pH 1.0 (14.44 ppm), and Fe³⁺ concentration of 0.0895 M (12.67 ppm), indicating a strong dependence of the system on these operational parameters. Mineralogical characterization of the ore was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). |