Cradle to grave
Breathing space for metallurgists
Understanding oxygen demand is critical to optimise metallurgical gold leach optimisation . According to Rob de Zoeten , metallurgist at Afrox , accurately establishing the total oxygen requirement is often overlooked . “ In many cases , undersized on-site oxygen plants are installed that cannot produce sufficient oxygen to optimise the leach ,” says De Zoeten .
Afrox has developed a unique and fully integrated end-to-end product service offering ( PSO ) for the global gold mining industry to optimise metallurgical gold leach using oxygen . The PSO , called Goldox , provides an oxygen demand test programme for specifying the oxygen demand requirements ; the supply of oxygen using Linde Engineering ’ s proprietary on site vacuum pressure swing adsorption ( VPSA ) technology ; supply ,
install , and commissioning of the oxygen reticulation network , flow control panels with safety interlocks and the oxygen injection system ; ongoing maintenance and downstream oxygen control management if required ; and provision of a highly flexible commercial structure for the supply of oxygen to the mine over an agreed period .
The Linde Group generates low-purity ( 90 – 95 %) oxygen , which is proven to be ideal for gold leaching , through the use of its VPSA technology . As a member of the Linde Group , Afrox can provide accurate guidance to gold mines regarding their oxygen requirements for both new and existing leach plants .
VPSA is an ambient temperature technology that takes advantage of the different binding capabilities of various gas molecules to a solid , porous material such as zeolites . The VPSA
processes cycles between adsorption and desorption of impurities as the feed gas flows through adsorber vessels to produce a continuous high-purity product gas . Since heating or cooling is not required , cycle time can be short ( usually less than a minute ), which results in a long lifetime for the adsorbent material .
Recent advances in adsorption technology and system design by Linde Engineering have enabled oxygen VPSA plants to become less expensive , more power-efficient , and smaller in size . The result is that an oxygen VPSA system offers a very cost-competitive , flexible oxygen supply solution that has demonstrated excellent results in a variety of commercial applications in the mining , chemical , and refining industries on a global basis .
DAVRON
ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPLIERS OF FIRE PUMPS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT WITHIN SOUTHERN AFRICA
Davron Equipment , 128 & 130 Loper Street , Aeroport , Gauteng Tel : + 27 11 974 3770 • Fax : + 27 11 974 6110 Email : sales @ davron . co . za • Website : www . davron . co . za