Application of Leaching Agitation Tanks in CIL and CIP Gold Processing

 Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) and Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP) are the most dominant technologies in modern gold extraction. Leaching agitation tanks are the core equipment in both processes, directly affecting leaching, adsorption, and final gold recovery.

In CIL processes, leaching and activated carbon adsorption happen simultaneously in the same agitation tank. Slurry, cyanide, oxygen, and carbon are mixed uniformly. This requires leaching tanks to provide stable agitation, uniform aeration, and moderate shear force to protect carbon from abrasion. Double-impeller tanks are highly suitable for this working condition.

In CIP processes, leaching occurs first, followed by carbon adsorption in separate agitation tanks. Both leaching tanks and adsorption tanks require efficient mixing and stable circulation. Uniform dissolved oxygen improves leaching in the first stage; mild shear protects carbon in the second stage.

Traditional single-impeller tanks often cause carbon abrasion, uneven mixing, and low oxygen dissolution. This results in low recovery and high operational cost. Modern double-impeller leaching agitation tanks solve these problems effectively.

Key advantages in CIL/CIP include:

1. Stable up-down circulation prevents sedimentation and dead zones.
2. Low-speed, large-diameter impellers reduce carbon wear.
3. Hollow shaft aeration creates fine bubbles and high dissolved oxygen.
4. Wear-resistant impeller lining extends service life.
5. Low power consumption reduces production cost.

These advantages directly improve leaching rate and carbon adsorption efficiency. Many mines upgrading from single-impeller to double-impeller systems achieve significant recovery improvement.

Leaching agitation tanks are also widely used in heap leaching, agitation leaching, concentrate leaching, and silver ore processing. They adapt to various ore types and production scales.

With the development of the global gold mining industry, demand for efficient, energy-saving, and reliable leaching equipment continues to rise. Double-impeller leaching agitation tanks have become standard in high-efficiency CIL/CIP plants.

For mine investors and plant managers, understanding the application of leaching agitation tanks helps optimize process design, reduce investment risk, and maximize economic benefits in gold production.

How to Select and Maintain Leaching Agitation Tanks for Gold Mines

 Selecting and maintaining leaching agitation tanks is critical for gold mines. Wrong selection leads to low recovery, high cost, and frequent failures. Proper maintenance ensures long service life and stable performance. This article introduces practical selection and maintenance guidelines.

When selecting a leaching agitation tank, first consider production capacity and volume. The tank volume must meet required residence time. Common volumes range from small units to large 300+ m³ tanks.

Second, consider ore characteristics: particle size, slurry density, viscosity, and specific gravity. For ores with fast settling speed, double-impeller tanks are more suitable because they provide stronger circulation.

Third, focus on impeller type and material. Double-impeller design is better for CIP/CIL. Wear-resistant rubber or PU lining prevents abrasion and extends life.

Fourth, check aeration mode. Hollow shaft bottom aeration is far more efficient than surface aeration. Uniform fine bubbles improve leaching speed and recovery.

Fifth, evaluate power consumption and maintenance convenience. Low-speed, large-diameter impellers save energy. Compact structure reduces maintenance difficulty.

After selection, proper maintenance is essential. Regularly check the impeller lining for wear and replace it in time. Inspect the sealing system and transmission parts to prevent oil leakage or abnormal noise.

Clean the tank regularly to avoid mud accumulation and dead zones. Check aeration holes to ensure smooth air supply. Control slurry density within reasonable range to reduce equipment load.

Lubricate the motor and reducer on time. Monitor current, temperature, and vibration during operation. Any abnormal parameter indicates potential failure.

Many mines underestimate maintenance and suffer from short equipment life and unstable production. With correct selection and scientific maintenance, leaching agitation tanks can operate reliably for many years.

In short, selection determines initial performance, and maintenance determines long-term stability. Both are essential for gold plants to achieve high recovery, low cost, and continuous efficient production.

Working Principle and Structural Advantages of Leaching Agitation Tanks

 Leaching agitation tanks are key equipment in gold cyanidation, CIP, and CIL systems. Although their appearance seems simple, their internal flow field, aeration mode, and impeller design directly determine performance. Understanding the working principle and structural advantages helps mines make better equipment choices.

The working principle of a double-impeller leaching agitation tank is based on forced circulation and uniform mixing. When the impeller rotates, slurry is drawn downward in the central area. It then flows outward and upward through damping plates, creating a stable up‑down circulation. This pattern ensures no sedimentation and uniform slurry distribution.

Meanwhile, air enters through the hollow shaft and is released near the bottom impeller. The high-speed shearing action breaks air into fine bubbles, which mix with slurry and rise slowly. This greatly improves oxygen dissolution, which is essential for efficient gold leaching.

Structurally, professional leaching agitation tanks have several core advantages. First, the double-impeller system provides stronger flow ability than single impeller. Second, the large-diameter, low-speed design reduces power consumption and carbon wear. Third, encapsulated impellers with wear-resistant rubber or PU extend service life.

Multi-point air supply and hollow shaft ventilation ensure uniform aeration. Unlike surface aeration, bottom aeration improves contact time between bubbles and slurry. The tank body is usually equipped with damping plates to stabilize flow and reduce vortex.

The transmission system adopts stable and reliable design, ensuring smooth operation and low failure rate. The whole machine is compact, easy to install, and requires low maintenance.

In actual production, these structural features translate into higher leaching rate, higher carbon adsorption efficiency, lower energy consumption, less wear, and longer equipment life.

For mining engineers and plant designers, the working principle and structural design of leaching agitation tanks are key factors in process efficiency. Choosing a scientifically designed leaching tank greatly improves the stability and economic benefits of the entire production line.

How Double-Impeller Leaching Agitation Tanks Improve Gold Recovery

 In gold CIP and CIL production lines, the leaching agitation tank is the heart of the process. Traditional single-impeller tanks often suffer from uneven mixing, sedimentation, high energy consumption, and serious carbon abrasion. Today, more and more mines are switching to double-impeller leaching agitation tanks to achieve higher gold recovery and lower operating costs.

The biggest advantage of double-impeller design is stronger and more uniform circulation. The two impellers work together to push slurry downward in the center and upward around the tank, forming a stable cycle. This eliminates dead zones, prevents sand deposition, and ensures every gold particle contacts cyanide and oxygen sufficiently.

Compared with single-impeller machines, double-impeller agitators use larger diameter and lower speed, which reduces wear on activated carbon. In CIP/CIL systems, carbon loss and abrasion directly increase operational cost. Low-speed, large-diameter impellers protect carbon while maintaining strong mixing, greatly reducing consumption.

Another important improvement is hollow shaft aeration. Air enters from the bottom through the hollow shaft and is cut into fine bubbles by the impeller. This improves oxygen dissolution efficiency significantly, accelerating gold leaching kinetics. Uniform micro-bubbles help increase leaching speed and shorten residence time.

Impeller protection is also critical. High-quality leaching tanks use wear-resistant rubber or polyurethane lining on impellers, extending service life and reducing maintenance frequency. This is especially important for continuous industrial production.

Double-impeller leaching tanks also feature compact structure, convenient maintenance, stable operation, and low noise. They adapt to various ore types, including oxide gold ore, weakly refractory ore, and silver‑bearing ore. Many mines report noticeable improvement in gold recovery after upgrading to double-impeller leaching agitation tanks.

In conclusion, double-impeller leaching agitation tanks integrate advantages of uniform mixing, efficient aeration, low energy consumption, low carbon wear, and high stability. For modern gold processing plants, this equipment has become a standard configuration to maximize economic benefits.

Technological and Economic Benefits of Zimbabwe 700t/d Gold Mineral Processing Plant

 The Zimbabwe 700t/d gold mineral processing plant, as a comprehensive EPC+M+O project by Xinhai Mining, has delivered remarkable technological and economic benefits that have exceeded the client’s expectations. From advanced processing technologies that maximize gold recovery to efficient operations that minimize costs, this plant has become a profitable and sustainable asset in Zimbabwe’s gold mining sector. With a raw ore gold grade of up to 6g/t, the project’s success is a testament to Xinhai’s expertise in providing customized mining solutions. 

The technological benefits of the plant are evident in its advanced process flow and equipment configuration. Xinhai’s customized process, which includes one-stage grinding-two-stage closed-circuit grinding and classification, gravity concentration, cyanidation, desorption electrolysis, smelting, and tailings dewatering, is designed to maximize gold recovery while ensuring operational efficiency. The integration of gravity concentration into the grinding and classification circuit, as mentioned earlier, is a key technological innovation that has reduced gold loss and improved recovery rates.

The plant’s equipment selection also contributes to its technological superiority. Xinhai used high-efficiency, energy-saving equipment throughout the plant, including advanced ball mills for grinding, centrifugal concentrators for gravity concentration, and state-of-the-art desorption electrolysis systems. These equipment not only improve processing efficiency but also reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs. For example, the energy-saving ball mills used in the grinding stage consume 15-20% less energy than traditional ball mills, resulting in significant cost savings over the long term. The desorption electrolysis system, which operates at high temperature and pressure, achieves a desorption efficiency of over 98%, ensuring that almost all gold adsorbed on the activated carbon is recovered.

Another technological benefit of the plant is its automation and digitalization. Xinhai incorporated advanced control systems into the plant’s operation, allowing for real-time monitoring and adjustment of process parameters. This automation reduces human error, improves operational stability, and allows for remote monitoring of the plant’s performance. The digital control system also collects and analyzes operational data, providing valuable insights that can be used to optimize the process flow and improve efficiency further.

The economic benefits of the plant are equally impressive. The high gold recovery rate, which exceeds 90%, is the primary driver of the plant’s profitability. With a raw ore gold grade of up to 6g/t, the plant is able to produce a significant amount of pure gold ingots each day, generating substantial revenue for the client. The integration of gravity concentration and advanced processing technologies has also reduced operational costs by minimizing gold loss and improving efficiency.

Cost savings are also achieved through the plant’s efficient design and operation. The EPC+M+O model, which ensures seamless coordination between project stages, has reduced construction and operational costs by eliminating delays and inefficiencies. The use of energy-saving equipment and water recycling systems has reduced utility costs, while the modular construction technique has shortened the construction duration, allowing the plant to start generating revenue earlier than expected.

The plant has also delivered significant socio-economic benefits to the local community. It has created over 200 direct employment opportunities, including positions for engineers, operators, and maintenance personnel, and many more indirect jobs in the surrounding communities. Xinhai also provided training to local workers, equipping them with valuable skills that can be used in the mining industry and beyond. This has not only improved the livelihoods of local residents but also contributed to the development of Zimbabwe’s mining sector.

In addition to its immediate economic benefits, the plant has long-term sustainability. The environmental protection measures implemented by Xinhai ensure that the plant’s operation does not harm the local environment, allowing for long-term, sustainable mining. The M+O stage of the EPC+M+O model ensures that the plant is operated and maintained to the highest standards, extending its lifespan and maximizing its long-term economic value.

In conclusion, the Zimbabwe 700t/d gold mineral processing plant has delivered significant technological and economic benefits, making it a benchmark project in African mining. Xinhai’s customized solutions, advanced technology, and integrated EPC+M+O model have ensured that the plant is efficient, profitable, and sustainable. For more detailed information on the plant’s economic performance and technological innovations, be sure to visit the external link provided.