Keywords

1 Introduction

The following methods of extraction of minerals trace from rocks, ores and products of their processing are well known.

  1. 1.

    In heavy liquids with subsequent magnetic and electromagnetic separation of heavy fractions (Chueva 1950; Mitrofanov et al. 1974). The disadvantage of this method is the aggregation of nanoparticles with minerals with a particle size less than 0.045 mm and their absence in the heavy fraction.

  2. 2.

    Extraction of rhenium from ores of black shale formations (Oleynikova et al. 2012. The method for the extraction of micro- and nanoparticles of metal compounds is not calculated.

  3. 3.

    Extraction of nanoparticles from disperse systems (Zhabreev 1997) using the electric field created by electromagnets. The method does not provide for the extraction of all classes of metal compounds.

  4. 4.

    Method of capillary extraction of nanoparticles (Smetannikov 2014). The material of fine fractions (<0.25 mm) mixing with a liquid forms of suspension, placed in the form of a hemisphere in a graphite substrate. The distance between minerals is comparable to their size and forms a capillary space. The liquid acquires structure, charge and becomes electrolyte (Deryagin et al. 1989). Nanoparticles adsorbed in matrix minerals are extracted into the capillary solution.

Due to the evaporation concentration, the nanoparticles migrate to the base of the hemisphere. After drying (1 ÷ 1.5 h), the hemisphere is removed, and the nanoparticles on the substrate are examined under a microprobe (Fig. 1). More than 50 minerals have been identified: intermetallic compounds and solid solutions of Au, Cu, Ag, Zn, Pb, Ni, Sn, Cu, Fe, Cr, Ti zircon, Sn minerals, monazite, which are trace substances in the water-insoluble salt residues of the Verkhnekamsk deposit (Smetannikov and Filippov 2010).

Fig. 1.
figure 1

A - clean graphite plate; B - a plate with a dried hemisphere of the investigated suspension; C- a plate with a hemisphere removed; D - Dried hemisphere (flat side up)

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The disadvantage of this method is incomplete extraction of nanoparticles. This method served as a prototype for developing method for extracting particles using the methods of intensifying the natural properties of capillary systems by an external electric field.

2 Methods and Approaches

The suspension is prepared from the material of fine fractions using distilled water and adding salt. The suspension is applied to a graphite plate, forming the hemisphere. An electrode with a “plus” sign (forming an anodic part of the system with a graphite plate) is connected to the underside of the plate. The second electrode is immersed in the suspension (without touching the graphite substrate) with a minus sign serves as a cathode. Then there is inclusion of the direct current voltage of 4 ÷ 6 V. Further there is an electrolytic extraction of nanoparticles and deposition on the substrate. The dried hemisphere is removed and the sediment is analyzed.

There were conducted three experiences. The first is capillary sedimentation. The second experiment is anodic deposition, with a graphite plate serves as an anode. The third experiment is with pole reversal, when the upper (positive) electrode serves as the anode and the graphite plate as the cathode. Figure 2 posted three photos of deposition traces in three experiments.

Fig. 2.
figure 2

A - sediment after capillary leaching; B - sediment after electrolytic anodic leaching; C - sediment after cathodic leaching

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In the first experiment, there were matrix minerals practically absent, the number of nanoparticles is minimal (Fig. 2A). In the second experiment, the number of matrix minerals and nanoparticles is 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than in the first experiment (Fig. 2B). In the third experiment, an intermediate result (Fig. 2C). The maximum of nanoparticles is fixed in the second experiment. Here, the deposition process is enhanced by heating the graphite plate.

Experiments have shown the natural properties of water in a capillary space change created by a constant current source under the influence of an electric field. Capillary solution acquires the properties of an electrolyte. The salt concentration in the suspension is 0.5–1%.

3 Results and Discussion

Extraction of micro- and nanoparticles from insoluble residues of salts, rocks, ores and products of their processing is provided by creating an electric field. The field creates the extracting properties of the electrolyte in suspension from the material of fine fractions and salt solution.

This factor ensures maximum extraction of micro- and nanoparticles and their fixation on a graphite substrate for subsequent analysis is by the microprobe method. Moreover, it is possible to solve the direct problem - the extraction of micro- and nanoparticles from insoluble residues of salts, ores and technogenic products, as well as the inverse problem - “cleansing” any small fraction of the material from impurities of minerals and metal particles.

While using the capillary-electrolytic method of extracting micro- and nanoparticles, the leaching effect (extraction) is achieved by 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than the results of the application of the prototype. The main goal is to obtain information of the form of finding elements-microimpurities. This result has been achieved. Researches are confirmed by the patent (Smetannikov and Onosov 2018).

4 Conclusions

  1. 1.

    The method relates to the methods for extracting micro- and nanoparticles of metal compounds from various media under the influence of direct electric current in a suspension of the material under study, water and salt, placed in a graphite substrate.

  2. 2.

    The new method is different from the prototype by the use of an external electric field, the intensity of extraction of nanoparticles and the completeness of extraction.