in 2006 to 0.14 ppm in 2010, in compliance with Maximum Permissible Levels established by national mining and environmental legislation. • A significant reduction in Caro’s Acid consumption for free cyanide destruction in cyanidation tailings was achieved, from an average of 10.5 kg of Caro’s Acid per kilogram of cyanide up to 2006, down to 2.2 kg of Caro’s Acid per kilogram of cyanide in 2010. • The efficiency of cyanide destruction using the Caro’s Acid process increased substantially, from an average of 93.7% efficiency until 2006, reaching a maximum efficiency of 99.9%. • Through optimization of the Caro’s Acid process, treatment costs for cyanide destruction were reduced from an average of $0.93/t of ore treated until 2006 to $0.30/t in 2010, resulting in savings of $0.63/t. • Optimization of the Caro’s Acid process for cyanide destruction in CIP cyanidation tailings at the Antapite processing plant contributes to improved occupational safety and health, enhanced environmental protection by preserving local flora and fauna, and strengthened community relations. In the unlikely event of seepage into downstream groundwater bodies, contamination levels would be minimal, since the filtrate complies with Maximum Permissible Limits for total cyanide content. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The author gratefully acknowledges Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. for authorizing the dissemination of this technical paper. REFERENCES Yannopoulos, J. C. (1995). The Extractive Metallurgy of Gold (A. Cárdenas Revilla, Trad.). Imral. Dixon, D. G. (n.d.). Cyanide destruction technology. University of British Columbia, Department of Materials Engineering, 15-16. David Dreisinger. (2008). Buenaventura Hydrometallurgy Short Course Presentation. Marquina, J. (2010). Optimización del proceso ácido Caro’s utilizado en la destrucción de cianuro libre contenido en los relaves de cianuración CIP en la planta de procesos Antapite (Informe técnico). Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A.Informes Mensual De Operaciones: Planta de Procesos Antapite. Reportes Mensual de Análisis de Cianuro Total. (2001-2010). Departamento de Medio Ambiente, Mina Antapite. Reportes De Operaciones. (2001-2010). Planta de Procesos Antapite.
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