772 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
on testwork from the Mexican project. As well, due to the
higher current density used in the Abitibi testwork, the cur-
rent efficiency was accordingly lower at 60%.
LIFECYCLE COST BENEFITS
Table 7 gives the process design parameters used in the
economic analysis. The laboratory work was utilized where
possible in the design and sizing of the process equipment.
Other parameters were supplied by the respective mine
sites.
Basis of Estimate
Cost estimates for this paper were developed using the fol-
lowing methodology:
• Process equipment was sized based on the PDC pre-
sented above, and the block flow diagrams described
within.
• Cost estimates for the main vendor packages (IX
columns, electrocells, rectifiers, scrubber) were deter-
mined based on quotations from recent and similar
BQE projects, with the remainder (tanks, pumps,
etc) based on equipment cost curves.
• Estimation of total installed costs based on using
installation factors, as given in Table 7, which are
derived from past completed projects.
The scoping level cost estimate (±30%) for the thiocyanate
removal processes for the two case studies are summarized
in Table 8 using the methodology explained in the preced-
ing paragraph and based on design criteria presented in
Table 7.
Table 9 summarizes the operating costs, net monetary
benefits, and estimated capital pay-back periods associated
with the two case studies for implementing the SCN recov-
ery circuits.
Table 4. Abitibi project feed water chemistry for solutions
tested
Parameter Unit Value
pH 9
Conductivity mS/cm 4.5
TDS mg/L 4750
N-NH
3 mg N/L 55
NO
2
– mg/L 2.5
NO3– mg/L 75
COD mg O2/L 95
Alkalinity mg CaCO
3 /L 156
Cl– mg/L 135
SO42– mg/L 2275
OCN– mg/L 100
SCN– mg/L 425
Gypsum Saturated (575 mg/L Ca)
Table 5. Feed and effluent analyses for initial and final IX
loading cycles
Parameter Unit
Cycle 1 Cycle 5
Feed Effluent Feed Effluent
SO42– mg/L 2,170 2,563 2,228 2,735
OCN– mg/L 89.3 7.6 88.5 38.6
NO
3
– mg/L 70.6 63.5 69.5 55
NO2– mg/L 2.6 2.4 0.4 0.3
Cl– mg/L 130 129 135 133
NH
3 mg/L 51.9 51.6 60.4 55.4
Table 6. Abitibi EO test conditions
Parameter Unit Value
Volume of solution L 9.8
Linear Velocity m/hr 1,300
Anode surface area m2 0.020
Average Voltage V 5.27
Current Density A/m2 600
Anode-Cathode Gap mm 25
Figure 10. (a) Breakthrough curves of the initial and final IX cycles, (b) loading capacity of IX resin
on testwork from the Mexican project. As well, due to the
higher current density used in the Abitibi testwork, the cur-
rent efficiency was accordingly lower at 60%.
LIFECYCLE COST BENEFITS
Table 7 gives the process design parameters used in the
economic analysis. The laboratory work was utilized where
possible in the design and sizing of the process equipment.
Other parameters were supplied by the respective mine
sites.
Basis of Estimate
Cost estimates for this paper were developed using the fol-
lowing methodology:
• Process equipment was sized based on the PDC pre-
sented above, and the block flow diagrams described
within.
• Cost estimates for the main vendor packages (IX
columns, electrocells, rectifiers, scrubber) were deter-
mined based on quotations from recent and similar
BQE projects, with the remainder (tanks, pumps,
etc) based on equipment cost curves.
• Estimation of total installed costs based on using
installation factors, as given in Table 7, which are
derived from past completed projects.
The scoping level cost estimate (±30%) for the thiocyanate
removal processes for the two case studies are summarized
in Table 8 using the methodology explained in the preced-
ing paragraph and based on design criteria presented in
Table 7.
Table 9 summarizes the operating costs, net monetary
benefits, and estimated capital pay-back periods associated
with the two case studies for implementing the SCN recov-
ery circuits.
Table 4. Abitibi project feed water chemistry for solutions
tested
Parameter Unit Value
pH 9
Conductivity mS/cm 4.5
TDS mg/L 4750
N-NH
3 mg N/L 55
NO
2
– mg/L 2.5
NO3– mg/L 75
COD mg O2/L 95
Alkalinity mg CaCO
3 /L 156
Cl– mg/L 135
SO42– mg/L 2275
OCN– mg/L 100
SCN– mg/L 425
Gypsum Saturated (575 mg/L Ca)
Table 5. Feed and effluent analyses for initial and final IX
loading cycles
Parameter Unit
Cycle 1 Cycle 5
Feed Effluent Feed Effluent
SO42– mg/L 2,170 2,563 2,228 2,735
OCN– mg/L 89.3 7.6 88.5 38.6
NO
3
– mg/L 70.6 63.5 69.5 55
NO2– mg/L 2.6 2.4 0.4 0.3
Cl– mg/L 130 129 135 133
NH
3 mg/L 51.9 51.6 60.4 55.4
Table 6. Abitibi EO test conditions
Parameter Unit Value
Volume of solution L 9.8
Linear Velocity m/hr 1,300
Anode surface area m2 0.020
Average Voltage V 5.27
Current Density A/m2 600
Anode-Cathode Gap mm 25
Figure 10. (a) Breakthrough curves of the initial and final IX cycles, (b) loading capacity of IX resin