Lixiviación Sinérgica de Plata Contenida en un Mineral Refractario Empleando un Sistema S2O32- - H2NCH2CO2-

The overexploitation and depletion of silver-rich mineral deposits with a suitable mineralogical nature for leaching under conventional treatment conditions and the high demand for this metal (Ag) has led to the processing of complex minerals considered refractory and the need to resort to environmentally friendly leaching agents other than cyanide. This work presents the results of the synergy caused by the leaching agents of the thiosulfate ion S2O32- and glycinate ion H2NCH2CO2-, as well as the pH, on a mineral containing 138 ppm Ag, 11.64 % Fe, 5.4 % Zn, 2.73 % Pb and 0.42 % Cu, and a mineralogical species of Pb - As - Ag detected by SEM. The use of only 11.61 X 10-2 M of thiosulfate and a pH of 8.5 leads to obtaining 62 % v/v in 4 hours of reaction, with this concentration and with 12.5 X 10-2 M of glycinate anion it generates a synergy in the leaching of silver achieving 88% v/v, while the pH leads to improving the extraction of silver achieving 94% v/v recovery.