Enhancing multipurpose use of cow-parsnip in processing of gold-bearing sulfides

The authors consider variants of multipurpose use of plant materials—ground green mass of Sosnovsky cow-parsnip. Simultaneous production of aqueous extract possessing depression properties and post-extraction solid residue being a sorbent for ions of gold and finely dispersed gold-bearing particles is one of the ways toward the reduction in cost and environmental impacts of flotation of gold-containing products. The SEM and UV spectrophotometry shows sorption activity of solid residue of cow-parsnip relative to Au3+ ions. It is demonstrated that the studied vegetable sorbent is applicable to additional recovery of finely dispersed gold from flotation pulp. The introduction of cow-parsnip instead of xanthogen in treatment of tailings has enhanced efficiency of fine gold recovery.