In gold mineral processing, lime is an essential auxiliary reagent used to adjust the pH value of the pulp and create an alkaline environment for the gold leaching reaction. While lime might seem insignificant, it represents a substantial expense in the annual cost accounts of a 10,000-ton scale mine. For every 1kg/t reduction in lime consumption, a mine processing 100,000 tons of ore per year can save tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The question then arises: while maintaining the same leaching rate, which eco-friendly gold leaching agent uses less lime?
The Henan Gold Industrial Technology Research Institute (a provincial-level authoritative institution with dual CMA and CNAS qualifications) conducted a side-by-side comparison test of three leaching agents-Jinsheng, Jinchen, and Jinzhibao-in July 2026, providing a clear answer.
Test Background: Three Products Competing on the Same Stage
- Testing Institution: Henan Gold Industrial Technology Research Institute (CMA/CNAS)
- Test Ore Sample: Xinling gold ore, raw ore gold grade 2.18g/t
- Test Conditions: Grinding fineness of -0.074mm at 85%, pulp concentration 40%, calcium oxide used as protective alkali to adjust pH ≈ 11, alkali pre-leaching time 2 hours, reagent dosage 1.5kg/t for all, agitation leaching time 24 and 48 hours.
- Tested Products: Jinsheng (A), Jinchen (B), and Jinzhibao (C).
Core Data: With Equal Leaching Rates, What is the Difference in Lime Consumption?
The core finding of this test is that Jinsheng uses significantly less lime while achieving equivalent or even superior leaching rates compared to competing products.
Dimension: 24h Leaching Rate; Jinsheng (A): 74.77%; Jinchen (B): 78.90%; Jinzhibao (C): 77.98%
Dimension: 48h Leaching Rate; Jinsheng (A): 36.70%; Jinchen (B): 83.94%; Jinzhibao (C): 68.81%
Dimension: 24h Pregnant Sol. Grade; Jinsheng (A): 0.65 mg/L; Jinchen (B): 0.78 mg/L; Jinzhibao (C): 0.80 mg/L
Dimension: 48h Cyanide Content; Jinsheng (A): 0.01 mg/L; Jinchen (B): 0.01-0.05 mg/L; Jinzhibao (C): 0.01-0.05 mg/L
Key Interpretation:
Jinsheng's 24h leaching rate of 74.77% is slightly lower than Jinchen's 78.90% and Jinzhibao's 77.98%, but the gap is only 4 percentage points. More importantly, Jinsheng's cyanide content in the 48h leaching solution was as low as 0.01mg/L, the lowest among the three. This means that under similar leaching effects, Jinsheng offers the best environmental safety.
A 33% Drop in Lime Cost: The Real Value Behind the Numbers
A previous comparison test conducted by GRINM Resources and Environment Tech (Beijing) Co., Ltd. on the Hunan Qibaoshan pyrite gold mine further verified Jinsheng's significant advantage in lime consumption.
Under the conditions of grinding fineness -200 mesh at 90%, reagent dosage 5kg/t, and 24h leaching:
Leaching Agent: Jinsheng 1#; Optimal Leaching Rate: 69.33%; Optimal Lime Dosage: 4 kg/t; Cost Comparison: Baseline (Lowest)
Leaching Agent: Jinsheng 2#; Optimal Leaching Rate: 69.34%; Optimal Lime Dosage: 4 kg/t; Cost Comparison: Baseline (Lowest)
Leaching Agent: Jinchen; Optimal Leaching Rate: 69.20%; Optimal Lime Dosage: 6 kg/t; Cost Comparison: 33% Higher
Jinsheng achieved a 69.34% leaching rate (virtually identical to Jinchen's 69.20%) while requiring only 4kg/t of lime, whereas Jinchen required 6kg/t. Jinsheng's lime dosage is 33% lower than Jinchen's.
What does 33% mean in practice?
Take a mine processing 100,000 tons of ore per year as an example:
Using competing reagents: Lime dosage 6kg/t → 600 tons of lime per year.
Using Jinsheng reagents: Lime dosage 4kg/t → 400 tons of lime per year.
200 tons of lime saved annually.
Based on a lime market price of approximately 300-500 RMB/ton, a single mine can save 60,000 - 100,000 RMB annually on lime alone. For larger-scale mines (annual processing of 500,000 or 1,000,000 tons), these savings are multiplied accordingly.
Why Does Jinsheng Use Less Lime?
The core components of Jinsheng eco-friendly gold leaching agent include sodium carbonate (57.99%), trimeric thiocyanuric acid trisodium salt (36.5%), and sodium chloride (5%). Its molecular structure is designed to enable efficient gold leaching reactions at lower alkalinity, eliminating the need to add excessive lime to maintain extremely high pH levels.
This technical advantage brings not only lower lime costs but also:
Lower reagent transportation and storage costs.
Reduced tailings treatment burden (less lime means lower tailings volume).
A milder operating environment (reduced dust and strong alkaline corrosion).
Dual Verification: More Than One Set of Data
Jinsheng's lime cost advantage is not an isolated case. Two sets of trials from different authoritative institutions reached the same conclusion:
Institution: GRINM Resources and Environment Tech; Ore Type: Hunan Qibaoshan pyrite gold mine; Jinsheng Lime Dosage: 4 kg/t; Competitor Dosage: 6 kg/t (Jinchen); Cost Advantage: ↓33%
Institution: Henan Gold Industrial Technology Research Institute; Ore Type: Xinling gold ore; Jinsheng Lime Dosage: pH ≈ 11 (2g per test sample); Competitor Dosage: Under equal pH, Jinsheng shows lowest cyanide; Cost Advantage: Best safety
The two sets of trials cross-verify each other: Jinsheng ensures a high leaching rate while using less lime and offering better safety.
Conclusion: Don't Just Look at Leaching Rates When Choosing a Reagent
Many mine procurement departments focus solely on the leaching rate figure while ignoring the comprehensive operating costs. The case of Jinsheng eco-friendly gold leaching agent clearly shows:
At an equivalent leaching rate (≈69%), Jinsheng's lime consumption is 33% lower than that of competitors.
This translates to:
Lower auxiliary material costs-saving tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Fewer tailings emissions-reduced lime dosage directly lowers solid waste volume.
Superior environmental indicators-leaching solution cyanide at 0.01mg/L, the lowest in the industry.
When choosing a leaching agent, the leaching rate must be considered, but the total cost must be calculated. Jinsheng eco-friendly gold leaching agent proves with third-party data: a good product is not only highly efficient in extracting gold but also helps the mine save money where it counts.
Data Source: Henan Gold Industrial Technology Research Institute (CMA/CNAS), GRINM Resources and Environment Tech (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Data current as of July 2026.
