Abstract
The factors influencing the dissolution kinetics of pure silver in cyanide solution have been analysed in terms of an electrochemical mechanism. A kinetic model is presented which incorporates coupled diffusion and charge transfer for the anodic branch, and combined diffusion, adsorption and charge transfer for the cathodic branch. The anodic oxidation of silver has been investigated using a silver rotating-disc electrode for concentrations between 10−3 and 10−1 m NaCN. Oxygen reduction on silver has been studied at oxygen partial pressures between 0.104 and 1.00 atm. Mechanistic aspects of the oxygen discharge reaction are considered in explaining the kinetic differences between gold and silver dissolution in cyanide solution. It is shown that under conditions typical of conventional cyanidation gold dissolves measurably faster than silver.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. S. MacArthur, R. W. Forrest and W. Forrest, British Patent 14 174 (1887).
Idem J. S. MacArthur, R. W. Forrest and W. Forrest, US Patents 403 202 and 418 137 (1989).
G. Barsky, S. J. Swainson and N. Hedley,Trans. AIME 112 (1934) 660.
E. Beyers,J. Chem. Met. Soc., S. Afr. 37 (1936) 37.
I. A. Kakovskii and Y. B. Kholmanskikh,Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Otdel. Tekh. Nauk. Met. Toplivo, No. 5 (1959) 97.
, No. 5 (1960) 207.
G. A. Deitz and J. Halpern,Trans. AIME 197 (1953) 1109.
V. Kudryk and H. H. Kellogg,J. Metals 6 (1954) 541.
A. G. Sharpe, ‘The Chemistry of Cyano Complexes of the Transition Metals’, Academic Press, London (1976).
M. E. Wadsworth,Mining Engng 37 (1985) 557.
D. W. Kirk and F. R. Foulkes,J. Electrochem. Soc. 127 (1980) 1993.
C. J. Van Velzen, A. G. Remijnse, G. J. Brug, M. Sluyters-Rehbach and J. H. Sluyters,J. Electroanal. Chem. 134, (1982) 87.
P. Fisher and J. Heitbaum,J. Electroanal. Chem.,112 (1980) 231.
R. W. Zurilla, R. K. Sen and E. Yeager,J. Electrochem. Soc. 125 (1978) 1103.
D. H. Evans and J. J. Lingane,J. Electroanal. Chem. 6 (1963) 283.
M. A. Anayetullah, E. J. M. O'Sullivan and E. B. Yeager,J. Appl. Electrochem. 18 (1988) 763.
K. Juttner,Electrochim. Acta 29 (1984) 1597.
D. A. J. Rand and R. Woods,J. Electroanal. Chem. 31 (1971) 29.
P. K. Adanuvor and R. E. White,J. Electrochem. Soc. 135 (1988) 2509.
H. S. Wroblowa, Y. C. Pan and G. Razumney,J. Electroanal. Chem. 69 (1976) 195.
M. Brezina, J. Koryta and M. Musilova,Coll. Czech. Chem. Commun. 33 (1968) 1026.
N. A. Anastasijevic, S. Strubac and R. R. Adzic,J. Electroanal. Chem. 240 (1988) 239.
A. Zwetanova and K. Juttner,119 (1981) 149.
E. Yeager, ‘Electrocatalysis on Non-metallic Surfaces’,NBS Spec. Publ. 445 (1976) 203.
C. G. Fink and G. L. Putnam,Trans. AIME 187 (1950) 952.
V. G. Levich, ‘Physicochemical Hydrodynamics,’ Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (1962).
T. W. Chapman, PhD Thesis, University of California-Berkeley, (1967).
J. B. Hiskey, in ‘Au and Ag Heap and Dump Leaching Practice’ (edited by J. B. Hiskey), Society of Mining Engineers, New Jersey (1984) Ch. 1.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hiskey, J.B., Sanchez, V.M. Mechanistic and kinetic aspects of silver dissolution in cyanide solutions. J Appl Electrochem 20, 479–487 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01076060
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01076060