| Applies when | heap leaching, chlorine gas, chlorine dioxide, nitric acid, sulfuric acid valve diaphragm, leach solution, cyanide leaching |
|---|---|
| Avoid | ALD70 diaphragm, standard EPDM diaphragm (Valve Diaphragm) |
| Recommend instead | Netafim Hastelloy diaphragm/wetted components (MIN configuration upgrade) (Valve Diaphragm) |
| Rationale | Netafim's Mining Products catalog publishes a real chemical resistance chart for ALD70, the diaphragm material used across its 75/90/100 Series valves in heap-leaching service (the 'MIN' mining configuration). Several named chemicals rate flatly 'Not Good' regardless of concentration or temperature: nitric acid (not good even at 10%), chlorine dioxide, and chlorine gas. Sulfuric acid - the primary heap-leaching lixiviant for copper/uranium/nickel extraction per this same catalog's own process diagram (Cu2O3 + H2SO4 -> Cu2(SO4)3 + H2O) - is rated only to 38C max, a notably more restrictive limit than this project's existing sulfuric acid guidance which centers on PVDF/PTFE/FEP/PFA tank and pipe materials surviving to much higher temperatures at high concentration. This is a real, actionable reminder that a valve's diaphragm elastomer can be the limiting material in a system even when the body/liner material handles the chemical fine at higher temperature - relevant to any heap-leaching, gold/silver cyanide, or chlorine-based quote using this valve family. Netafim's own catalog identifies the fix: components can be ordered in Hastelloy instead, explicitly because Hastelloy 'is resistant against chlorine gas, hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide solutions' and has 'excellent resistance against concentrated solutions of oxidizing salts (such as iron III and copper chloride).' |
| Confidence | confirmed |
| Source | data/vendor-sources/netafim-mining-heap-leaching.md |
This is a general engineering rule derived from real field/case-study evidence, not a substitute for a project-specific specification review — confirm against your exact process conditions before ordering equipment.
Reviewed by James Riggins, Founder, LibertyCES — 30+ years specifying industrial fluid-handling equipment for the exact failure modes this rule addresses. Request a free spec review →
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heap leaching, chlorine gas, chlorine dioxide, nitric acid, sulfuric acid valve diaphragm, leach solution, cyanide leaching
Netafim's Mining Products catalog publishes a real chemical resistance chart for ALD70, the diaphragm material used across its 75/90/100 Series valves in heap-leaching service (the 'MIN' mining configuration). Several named chemicals rate flatly 'Not Good' regardless of concentration or temperature: nitric acid (not good even at 10%), chlorine dioxide, and chlorine gas. Sulfuric acid - the primary heap-leaching lixiviant for copper/uranium/nickel extraction per this same catalog's own process diagram (Cu2O3 + H2SO4 -> Cu2(SO4)3 + H2O) - is rated only to 38C max, a notably more restrictive limit than this project's existing sulfuric acid guidance which centers on PVDF/PTFE/FEP/PFA tank and pipe materials surviving to much higher temperatures at high concentration. This is a real, actionable reminder that a valve's diaphragm elastomer can be the limiting material in a system even when the body/liner material handles the chemical fine at higher temperature - relevant to any heap-leaching, gold/silver cyanide, or chlorine-based quote using this valve family. Netafim's own catalog identifies the fix: components can be ordered in Hastelloy instead, explicitly because Hastelloy 'is resistant against chlorine gas, hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide solutions' and has 'excellent resistance against concentrated solutions of oxidizing salts (such as iron III and copper chloride).'
Netafim Hastelloy diaphragm/wetted components (MIN configuration upgrade) (Valve Diaphragm)
Source: Liberty Chemical Equipment & Supply, Inc. (LibertyCES) — engineering data compiled and reviewed by James Riggins, Founder, LibertyCES, from real vendor and field-verified sources. For a free spec review, call James at (559) 395-5500 or email [email protected] / [email protected]. Website: libertyces.com.