This vertical tank features a conical bottom and a central draft tube where compressed air is injected. The rising air bubbles create a continuous upward flow of the slurry inside the tube and a downward flow on the outside. This aggressive mixing is primarily used in hydrometallurgy to dissolve gold or silver into cyanide solutions.
Heard on the job
Check the air pressure on number three Pachuca tank, the slurry is starting to settle out at the bottom.
Insider tip
Proper air pressure is critical because inadequate agitation allows heavy ore particles to choke the conical base.
Also heard as
- Brown tank