AFFTECH 10000 PC

GOLD REFINER

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Apr. 2005 REV. A1
 General view

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1

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1 2 3

Front view Rear view

1. Stirrer 1. Power Unit

2. Glass Pyrex Industrial Reactor 2. Power Connector
3. Silver Cylinder (includes AgCl bag) 3. Lower cooling fan
4. Gold Cylinder 4. Scrubber n. 1
5. Gold Filter (includes filter paper) 5. Scrubber n. 2
6. Disposal Trail 6. Scrubber n. 3
7. Fumes / Vacuum Pump 7. Scrubber n. 4
8. Glass spiral refrigerator 8. Scrubber n. 5
9. Upper cooling fan 9. Scrubber n. 6

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 Component’s details

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7 1
3
2 4
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1

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6 2
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2

Glass Pyrex Reactor No-return glass safety valve

1. 50 liters Glass Pyrex industrial Reactor 1. No-return glass valve

2. Grains loading mouth 2. In cooling water
3. Acids and water loading mouth 3. Out cooling water
(three fingers cone) 4. Vacuum pump power socket
4. One finger cone 5. Stirrer power socket
5. Glass spiral refrigerator
6. Glass tube for liquid filtration
7. Glass bell to drive the stirrer pole
8. Teflon scrapping anchor
9. Adjustable Teflon terminal

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 General view

10 9 8 7
4 2
3 2 1

1 2

5 6 4
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6

Left side view Right side view

1. Glass Pyrex Reactor 1. Gold Cylinder

2. Loading mouth for Alloy grains 2. Gold Cylinder cover
3. Loading mouth for Acids/water (3 fingers cone) 3. Gold Cylinder tap
4. One finger cone 4. Gold filter (includes filter paper)
5. Lower cooling fan 5. Disposal Trail
6. Heating system 6. Emergency Panel (Power On Unit)
7. Water loading valve 7. Lamp: lamp is always on to facilitate
8. HNO3 loading valve visibility inside the Refiner
9. HCl loading valve
10. EVL valve for vacuum in Glass Reactor

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 Component’s details

Silver chloride filter

1 1. PVC made cover

2. AgCl one micron
filter bag

Stirrer

1. Stirrer power on

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 Component’s details

5 2 3 5 4
1

Loading valves

1. EVL - Single valve normally open: when closed allows vacuum in glass reactor,
when open keeps atmospheric pressure in glass reactor.
2. HCl - Single valve normally closed: when open allows HCl acid to flow from
hydrochloric acid tank into the glass reactor.
3. HNO3 - Single valve normally closed: when open allows HNO3 acid to flow from
nitric acid tank into the glass reactor.
4. H2O - Single valve normally closed: when open allows water to flow from water
tank into the glass reactor.
5. No-return PP valves: let air in the acids tanks but not the acids fumes out.

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 Component’s details

3 1
2

3 1
2

5 5

Fumes / Vacuum Pump

1. Pump sealed Teflon heads
2. Pipe-fitting for suction
3. Pipe-fitting for blowing
4. Pump sealed body
5. On-Off manual switch

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 Component’s details

Ceramic heating plates

1. Ceramic plates
2. Heating red lamp: shows heating time when on
3. Cooling blue lamp: shows cooling time when on

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 Component’s details

Acid tanks filter

1. Filter (to be inserted into the

acids / water tanks as shown)
2. Acids / water tank 3
3. PVC tube from tank
to loading valve

No-return PP valves
2
1. PP no-return valves (avoid liquid transport
from scrubber to scrubber)

1 1 1 1 1 1

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 Component’s details
Afftech 10000 PC Command keyboard

Q W E R T Y U O
CONF. P
WEIGHT

PF ST HE SF COOL PV EVF HCl HNO3

Ag A S CANC. D G
H2 O STOP EVL START

Au C N M =
NON
CUSTOM CUSTOM MANUAL DISCARD

It is a standard keyboard with customized symbols on some keys as synthetized in the above
figure.
For a description of the functionality of the keys see chapter “Command keyboard
description”.

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 Component’s details

Disposal trail

1. Thread connection to
Gold filter
2. Pipe-fitting to vacuum pump 1
3. Liquid drain tap 2
2

Power connector

1. Power Unit
2. Power connector: connects 1
Power Unit to Devices
3. Digital cable (RS232):
connects Power Unit to
Personal Computer 2

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 Component’s details
Emergency panel

EMERGENCY SERVICE PANEL

PF ST CO HE

SF PV EVF EVL

HNO3 H2 O HCl

Power Emergency

Emergency Pushbutton
In normal operation, the pushbutton must be positioned on position “1” ( led on).
When in position “0” ( led off) it disconnects the power to the loading valves. To be used in case of
circuit defects which keeps the device always activated, even in absence of command.

Emergency service panel

In normal operation all pushbuttons must be OFF ( pushbutton light or led off ).
When activated ( pushbutton light or led on ) they exercise the corresponding device.
This command has priority respect to the Software or manual Command keyboard.
To be used in presence of faults which avoid the Software or the manual Command keyboard to
correctly activate one or more of the Devices.

POWER Pushbutton
Power on / Power off the Refiner.
Connected to 220V / 50Hz power

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 Component’s details

Silver filtration valve

1. SF - Pinch valve normally closed: when closed allows vacuum in glass reactor.
When open connects glass reactor to filtering groups allowing transfer of liquid
from glass reactor to Gold container thru Silver filtering system.

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 Component’s details

2
1

Filtering system valves group

1. EVF - Normally open valve: when open keeps atmospheric pressure into Gold
container. When closed allows vacuum into Gold container and liquid flowing
from Glass reactor into Gold container thru open SF valve and Silver filtering
system.

2. PV - Two way valve normally positioned in connecting Fumes / Vacuum pump to

Scrubbers; in this situation the Pump sucks fumes from Glass reactor forcing
them thru the neutralization liquid present into the four Scrubbers; in this position
SF is closed. When powered on it connects Fumes / Vacuum pump to Gold
Container allowing filtration process while SF is open and EVF is closed.

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 Component’s details
How to prepare Gold filter

Step 1
Insert filter paper into the
bottom part of the Gold Filter.

Step 2
Surround the upper part of
the Gold Filter with 2nd paper
filter as shown in the figure.

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 Component’s details
How to prepare Gold filter

Step 3
Gold Filter group is now
ready as shown in the figure.

Step 4
Insert the Gold Filter cover
by screwing top to filter as
shown in the figure.

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 Component’s details
How to prepare Gold filter

Step 5
The Gold Filter is ready to be
inserted into the Unit.

Step 6
Insert the Gold Filter into the
Unit as shown in the figure.

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 Component’s details
How to prepare Gold filter

Step 7 Step 8
Connect the Gold Filter to the The Gold Filter is ready to operate.
Tap of the Gold Container as shown
in the figure.

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 General description

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATIONS

1. Alloy is loaded into the Glass Reactor ( alloy must be in soft grains format ).
2. Vacuum is generated inside the Glass Reactor by Fumes / Vacuum Pump : two ways valve
connects Pump to Scrubbers, loading valve ( EVL ) is closed (ON condition), silver filtration
valve (SF) is closed (OFF condition).
3. Acids are slowly loaded into the Glass Reactor thru pinch valves, the Glass reactor is
heated by I/R Ceramic heating plates.
4. Fumes generated by the reaction are collected thru glass spiral refrigerator ( water-cooled ) and
washed into the six sequential Scrubbers ( Scrubber 1 to Scrubber 6 ) for neutralization.
5. When needed during the refining process and at the end of the reaction, Glass Reactor is
strongly air-cooled by three Fans : at process end, water is loaded into the Glass Reactor thru
H2O valve.
Note : Adequate cooling and water quantity are needed to warrant final gold purity.
6. Glass Reactor is back to atmospheric pressure by opening EVL.
7. Vacuum is generated inside Gold Container by Pump : twoways valve connects now Pump to
Gold Container, silver filtration valve ( SF ) is open, filter valve ( EVF ) is closed.
8. Liquid is filtered from glass Reactor to Gold Container thru Silver Filter where AgCl powder is
fully captured. The liquid, cleaned from AgCl, is transferred into Gold Container and becomes
in contact with gold precipitant ( Gold Reagent ) previously loaded into Gold Container. The
gold precipitate under pure gold powder form inside the Gold Container.
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19
 Unpacking the Refiner
Integrity check
After having unpacked the Afftech 10000 PC Refiner a visual control of the integrity of the
entire Unit is necessary. Using the correct screwdriver open all the carters of the Refiner and
perform a detailed visual check of all
the inside and outside parts:

a) Checking the Glass Pyrex Reactor

1. The Glass flask must be without damages.

2. The loading mouth looks integral.
3. The cone of the stirrer pole looks integral and
it shows presence of teflon tape all around the
cone insertion in the flask.
4. The glass one finger cone looks integral and it
shows the presence of a transparent teflon seal.
5. The three fingers cone looks integral and shows
presence of transparent teflon seal.
6. The filtering tube group looks integral and
shows presence of teflon seal around the cone
and shows presence of teflon terminal which
is in contact with the bottom of the flask.
7. The glass spiral looks integral and shows
presence of transparent teflon seal.
8. The teflon terminal is touching the flat
bottom of the flask.
9. The two portions of the teflon anchor are
connected by the teflon screw and they
touch the flat bottom of the flask.
10. The teflon ring is well positioned and the
flask is orthogonal to the refiner base.

b) Checking the no-return valves

1. Check the integrity of the no-return glass valve

and presence of transparent teflon seal. 1
2. Check the integrity of the PP no-return valve.

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 Unpacking the Refiner
Integrity check

After having unpacked the Afftech 10000 Refiner a visual control of the integrity of the
entire Unit is necessary.
Using the correct screwdriver open all the carters of the Refiner and perform a detailed
Visual check of the inside and outside parts:

c) Checking the integrity of the Scrubbers

Visually check the full integrity of each Scrubber: the connections tubes are well connected,
the PP valves are ok, the tubes inside the Scrubber is without damages, also the terminals are
in good conditions.

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 Unpacking the Refiner
Integrity check

After having unpacked the Afftech 10000 PC Refiner a visual control of the integrity of the
Entire Unit is necessary.
Using the correct screwdriver open all the carters of the Refiner and perform a detailed
Visual check of the inside and outside parts:

d) Checking the Pump, the Gold Container and the Gold Filter

Check absence of visible damages to the Pump, to the gold container and to the gold tap.
Check the full integrity of the gold filter.
Control easy screwing / unscrewing of the gold filter.
Let gold filter well screwed.

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 Unpacking the Refiner
Integrity check

After having unpacked the Afftech 10000 PC Refiner a visual control of the integrity of the
entire Unit is necessary.
Using the correct screwdriver open all the carters of the Refiner and perform a detailed
visual check of all the inside and outside parts:

a) Checking the integrity of all parts internally connected

Check the correct connection

between filter-tank and
related valves.
Check the integrity of the heat
and lamp group. Check the
integrity and the connections
of the fans. Check the correct
connections of the plastic tubes
between glass filtering tube and
the silver filter, between silver
filter exit and gold container
cover, between gold container
cover and PV and EVF.
Check the correct connections
between PV and Scrubber 3 and
between PV and Scrubber 4.
Check the correct position of
the plastic tube in the pinch valve.

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 Installation and power on

INSTALLATION

After having completed the control of the internal connections and the check of the integrity
of the Refiner, as described in the above chapters, the Operator will proceed to complete the
installation of the Refiner. In this phase the Refiner is put in the condition to be electrically
and pneumatically tested.

a) Check the presence of the filter bag into the Silver Filter.
b) Check that the three filters for acid / water tanks are clean and well connected to the
valves.
c) Put the acid / water filters into a plastic container loaded with water (the level of water
should cover the filters).
d) Prepare the chemicals for the Scrubbers as described in Appendix 2 - Chemicals, points
16 and 17.
e) Load the Scrubbers with the appropriate chemical solutions (Scrubbers 1, 2 and 3 with
Chemical described in point 16, Scrubbers 4, 5 and 6 with Chemical described in point
17).
NOTE: The Scrubbers can be loaded directly from the top, while the Scrubbers are in
place in the Refiner, nevertheless we suggest to take out from its place each Scrubber, load
it separately, than replace the Scrubber into the Refiner.
In order to take the Scrubber out of the Refiner, unscrew the screws of the horizontal PVC
bar (Figure E1).

Figure E1

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 After having loaded each Scrubber till the red line of reference, marked on the columns, replace all
Scrubbers inside the Refiner by reconnecting all plastic tubes which interconnect the Scrubbers
(Figure E2).

Figure E2
f) Recheck all the plastic / non plastic connections of the parts of the Refiner here following
summarized for reference:

f 1) Loading valves to acid filters.

f 2) Loading valves to glass cone (three fingers - teflon protected).
f 3) Correct connection between the stirrer teflon anchor thru the large glass cone (with
teflon tape protection) on the top of the glass reactor.
f 4) Entry fit of the Scrubber 1 to no-return glass valve to glass spiral - glass cone (teflon
protected).
f 5) Glass filtering tube (inside the glass reactor with teflon terminal) - glass cone (teflon
protected) - pinch valve (SF) - silver filter cover.
f 6) Silver filter container (bottom) - gold container cover.
f 7) Gold container cover – two ways valve (PV).
f 8) Gold container cover - filtering valve (EVF).
f 9) Control the connection line: gold container tap (horizontal closed).
f 10) Control the connections between the Scrubbers (including no-return PP valves).
f 11) Control the connection line between the two ways valve, Scrubber 3 and Scrubber 4.
f 12) Control the connection line between the pump (in fit) and Scrubber 6.
Review all the connections in general, referring to the previous descriptions and figures
shown in the Manual.

POWER ON

a) Connect power on plug into 220V / 50 Hz socket.

b) Connect the RS232 connector coming from the Power Module to the serial port no. 1 of
the PC.
c) Switch Power On Pushbutton and Emergency Pushbutton to ON (light on).
d) Check: internal lamp on.
Emergency control: all emergency service panel pushbuttons OFF (light or led off).
e) Check the absence of evidence of internal devices in working condition (e.g. no valves
noises, no bubbling into the scrubbers, no red / blue lights inside the refiner, etc.).

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 Check of the Refiner devices
INITIAL CHECK USING EMERGENCY SERVICE PANEL
After putting the Power and Emergency pushbuttons in position ON, use the Emergency
Service Panel pushbuttons :
1. PF : Switch ON and check : strong bubbling in all four Scrubbers - Switch OFF.
2. ST : Switch ON and check :set the stirring speed. Switch OFF.
3. HE : Switch ON and check : Red lamp is on - Switch OFF.
4. SF : Switch ON and check :Valve clucking noise (alternate ON-OFF and check noise) -
Switch OFF.
5. CO : Switch ON and check : Blue lamp is on - Three large Fans cooling the glass
reactor are both on : control the air flushing - Switch OFF.
6. PV : Switch ON and check :Valve clucking noise (alternate ON-OFF and check noise) -
Switch OFF.
7. EVF : Switch ON and check :Valve clucking noise (alternate ON-OFF and check noise) -
Switch OFF.
8. EVL : Switch ON and check :Valve clucking noise (alternate ON-OFF and check noise)
- Switch OFF.
9. HCl : as per EVL.
10. HNO3 : as per EVL.
11. H2O : as per EVL. NOTE: for safety reasons HCl, HNO3 and H2O pushbuttons will
automatically return to off position once released.

INITIAL CHECK USING THE COMMAND KEYBOARD

Run the software program and choose the Custom process (see chapter “Start of the refining
cycle” point 08.14).
Repeat the same operations as above, by using the Command keyboard Manual keys (see
Command keyboard description Chapter).

Q W E R T Y U O
CONF. P
WEIGHT

PF ST HE SF COOL PV EVF HCl HNO3

Ag A S D
CANC. G
H2O STOP EVL START

Au C N M =
NON
CUSTOM CUSTOM MANUAL DISCARD

NOTE: using keyboard in manual mode do not push simultaneously the function keys
(do it only SEQUENTIALLY); pushing simultaneously the function keys causes a
temporary failure of the Power Module, in order to repair the failure the Operator
must switch OFF the Power Module for few seconds and then switch ON again.
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DEVICES EFFECTIVENESS CHECK

This control should be done by using the Command keyboard manual keys, after running the
software program (see the preceding paragraph).

1. Put ON EVL valve (check ON message on the monitor).

2. Put ON PF pump: check bubbling in all six scrubbers.

Wait for few minutes (pump is creating vacuum into the reactor).

3. Push HCl key to switch ON the HCl valve (see counter on monitor) and check water
flowing into glass reactor, push again HCl key to switch OFF HCl valve.
4. Push HNO3 key and repeat as per point 3 above.
5. Push H2O key and repeat as per point 3 above.
6. Put ON HE and check the red lamp (under the glass reactor) on.

Wait for few minutes (the water in the reactor is warming up).

7. Put OFF HE (red lamp off).

8. Put ON COOL (check ON message on monitor) and check the blue lamp (under the glass
reactor) on, also check the air flushing from the three cooling fans. Put OFF COOL.
9. In sequence: put OFF EVL, put ON EVF, put ON PV, put ON SF (check the monitor).

Wait few seconds (water is now flowing from glass reactor into gold container).
When all the water has flown from glass reactor to gold container:

10. Put OFF PF, put OFF PV, put OFF EVF, put OFF SF: wait for few seconds.
11. Manually turn vertical the gold tap: water will flow into the disposal trail.

NOTE: BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE ABOVE OPERATIONS BEFORE

STARTING A REFINING CYCLE.

Proceed to verify the “portata” value by using the procedure described in Appendix 3
How to determine (memorize) the “portata” value.

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 Command keyboard description
KEYS FUNCTIONALITY DESCRIPTION

Q W E R T Y U O WEIGHT P
CONF.

PF ST HE SF COOL PV EVF HCl HNO3

Ag A S CANC. D G
H2O STOP EVL START

Au C N M =
NON
CUSTOM CUSTOM MANUAL DISCARD

Functionality of the keys

Numeric keys : To be used to provide the requested information on : weight (100 to

10000), Gold percentage (200 to 999), Silver percentage (0 to 12)
and “portata” value.
CANC. D
CANC. : To correct the numeric information (push CANC. to cancel last data
EVL during data input).

G
START : To start the process according to the start procedure or after a
START manual status.

S
STOP : To stop the program after a manual status (push STOP and the entire
STOP process ends).

M
MANUAL : To go to manual status from process : activates functionality
MANUAL
of Manual keys.

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 WEIGHT P
WEIGHT : Push WEIGHT to confirm the weight value given by numeric keys.
HNO3

Au C
Au : Push Au to confirm the estimated gold percentage value given by
CUSTOM
numeric keys.

Ag A
Ag : Push Ag to confirm estimated silver percentage given by numeric
H2O keys.

Au C
CUSTOM : To be used to start custom cycle (presently test cycle).
CUSTOM

N
NON CUSTOM : To be used to start non custom cycle.
NON
CUSTOM

CONF. O
CONF. : To be used to confirm the data on weight, Au% and Ag% before
HCl starting Automatic process.

=
DISCARD : To be used to not confirm the data on weight, Au% and Ag% before
DISCARD
starting Automatic process.

Q
PF PF : Activates / deactivates Fumes / Vacuum Pump.

W
ST : Activates / deactivates the Stirrer.
ST
E
HE : Activates / deactivates ceramic plates heaters and red lamp.
HE

SF R : Activates / deactivates Silver Filtration valve (pinch valve) : when

SF OFF valve is closed, when ON valve is open.

T
COOL : Activates / deactivates fans to cool Glass Reactor and blue lamp.
COOL

PV Y : Activates / deactivates two-way valve : when OFF Pump is

PV connected to Scrubbers, when ON Pump is connected to Gold
Cylinder Container and creates vacuum for filtration.
U
EVF : Activates / deactivates Filter valve : when OFF , filter valve is open,
EVF when ON filter valve is closed allowing vacuum into Gold Container.

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 EVL CANC. D : Activates valve for vacuum in Glass reactor : when OFF
EVL valve is open ( no vacuum in the Glass Reactor ), when ON it is
closed ( vacuum in the Glass Reactor ).
CONF. O
HCl : Activates / deactivates valve of Hydrochloric Acid.
HCl
WEIGHT P
HNO3 HNO3 : Activates / deactivates valve of Nitric Acid.

Ag A
H2O : Activates / deactivates valve of Water.
H2O

”n” key N : The “n” small letter key is used to memorize the “portata”
NON value (see Appendix 3 : How to determine (memorize) the
CUSTOM
“portata” value).

HOW TO ACCESS THE MANUAL KEYS OPERATIONS

During the execution of an automatic cycle, it is possible to enter into the manual status in order to
correct, by manual commands, any possible problem :
1. Push MANUAL key.
2. The MANUAL ON message appears on the monitor (eventual process execution is frozen in the
under execution conditions).
3. In this situation the Operator can activate all the manual commands thru Manual keys : the keys
have a bivalent function : OFF to ON and ON to OFF when pushing.
NOTE: using keyboard in manual mode do not push simultaneously the function keys (do it
only SEQUENTIALLY); pushing simultaneously the function keys causes a temporary failure
of the Power Module, in order to repair the failure the Operator must switch OFF the Power
Module for few seconds and then switch ON again. If after this operation the pump is OFF,
put it ON immediately using the PF pushbutton on the Emergency service panel.
In order to return to the automatic condition from Manual, the Operator must push
MANUAL again :
4. On the monitor it appears the message : START / STOP.
5. Pushing START the process goes back to the frozen condition, restarting the process from that
point of the cycle.
6. Pushing STOP the process goes directly to the End status. In case that the program was
performing the Reaction sequence when interrupted then by pushing STOP the process goes
directly to the following cycle (e.g. from REACTION Cycle 1/10 to REACTION Cycle 2/10). In
order to end completely the process the Operator must stop every cycle using the procedure
written above ( e.g. until REACTION Cycle 10/10). Once the last cycle has been stopped the
process goes directly to the End status.
NOTE : In the End status, all devices are off with the exception of the Fumes Pump which remains
in operating condition to collect possible residual fumes still present in the glass reactor.
30
 Preparation for the refining

Before starting any refining cycle it is crucial to check the condition of the Refiner to be sure
that the refining process can be executed without problems.
The checks to carefully perform are the following:

1. Correct position of the Emergency Panel pushbuttons (see “Component’s details” chapter,
“Emergency Panel” section).
2. Correct position of gold tap (horizontal - closed).
3. Presence of filter paper into the gold filter.
4. Presence of filter bag into the silver filter container.
5. Correct lock of the cover knobs of silver and gold containers.
6. Correct lock of glass parts inserted into the glass cones of the glass Pyrex reactor:

- three ways cone (acids and water loading)

- one finger cone
- spiral cone
- no-return valve cone
- filtering tube cone
- stirrer pole cone

7. Polypropylene loading mouth well inserted.

8. Presence of full liquids into the four scrubbers.
9. Correct position of the tubes connecting loading valves to acids / water tanks:
- the filters (see “Component’s details” chapter, “Acid tanks filters” section) are positioned
at the bottom of the tanks in horizontal position
- the acids / water tanks are loaded with acids / water
- the tubes are filled with liquid and there is not presence of bubbles in the tubes.

After checking all the above with care, run the software program and power ON the Refiner
by pressing POWER and EMERGENCY pushbutton positioned on the Emergency Console.
Before starting be sure that the “portata” value is updated to the previous verification.
The Refiner is now ready to start the refining cycle, the operator can now follow the
instructions shown on the monitor Menu (see chapter “Start of the refining cycle”).

31
 Start of the refining cycle
The software of Afftech 10000 PC Refiner is designed to operate different kind of refining
processes, depending on the Customer kind of alloy under refining.
There are two main refining cycles:
1. Refining cycle for alloys which may change from cycle to cycle in weight, percentage of
gold and percentage of silver. In this case the Refiner will execute a “non custom” cycle,
this means that the start of the refining cycle will require from the Operator the
information data relative to the alloy under refining: weight of the alloy, estimated gold
percentage, estimated silver percentage.
2. Refining cycle for alloys which are always the same, this is the typical case of refining
always the same kind of alloy and the same quantity. In this case it is possible to design a
specific refining cycle which will be fully optimized to the customer alloy, this specific
software program will be executed as “custom” cycle. The way to design software
program will be described in the “Afftech 10000 Software Manual” (available date:
TBD).
NOTE: In absence of the customized software, the Custom cycle will be used as a test cycle
to check the complete execution of the refining process in short time (approximately
10 minutes). When used as a test program, the Custom cycle will consider as input
data the following data: alloy weight: 1000 grams, gold %: 750/1000,
silver %: 10 %.
Such data are used as a reference only to allow the Custom cycle to start as test
cycle.

FLOW OF OPERATIONS
START REFINING CYCLE

CUSTOM ?
NO YES

NON CUSTOM TEST PROGRAM

INPUT ALLOY WEIGHT

OPERATOR CONFIRM

INPUT GOLD PERCENTAGE

EXECUTE TEST PROGRAM

INPUT SILVER PERCENTAGE

OPERATOR CONFIRM

EXECUTE REFINING CYCLE

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 Start of the refining cycle
( Non Custom process )

08.01 After powering-on the Afftech 10000 PC Refiner and running the program Af10kc1,
wait for approximately 10 Sec. and check the presence on the monitor of the
following message :
Welcome to AFFTECH Push START
after pushing START key check the presence on the monitor of the following Menu
image :

08.02 Push the NON CUSTOM key and check the presence on the monitor of the following
Menu image :

Operator is now requested to indicate the weight of the alloy to be refined.

33
 Start of the refining cycle
( Non Custom process )
08.03 Using the numeric keys, the Operator inputs the weight of the alloy in grams. In the
figure sample the weight of the alloy to be refined is : 100 grams. Check for the
following Menu image on the monitor :

08.04 To confirm the weight data the Operator will push the WEIGHT key. The following
Menu image will appear on the monitor :

Operator is now requested to indicate the estimated gold percentage of the alloy to
be refined.

34
 Start of the refining cycle
( Non Custom process )
08.05 Using the numeric keys, the Operator inputs the estimated percentage of the gold of
the alloy in 1000/1000. In the figure sample, the gold percentage of the alloy to be
refined is 750/1000, so the Operator will input : 750 (in case the gold percentage is
unknown the Operator must input the value : 500). Check for the following Menu
image on the monitor :

a.06 To confirm the gold percentage data the Operator will push the Au key. The
following Menu image will appear on the monitor :

Operator is now requested to indicate the estimated silver percentage of the alloy to
be refined.

35
 Start of the refining cycle
( Non Custom process )
08.07 CASE OF ALLOY WITH SILVER PERCENTAGE LESS THAN 12 %
Using the numeric keys, the Operator inputs the estimated percentage of the silver of the
alloy in 100/100. In the figure sample, the silver percentage of the alloy to be refined is
9/100, so the operator will input : 9. Check for the following Menu image on the monitor:

08.08 To confirm the silver percentage data the Operator will push the Ag key. The
following Menu image will appear on the monitor :

Operator is now requested to confirm data by pushing the CONF. key. In case the data are
not correct, push the DISCARD key and repeat all the operations from point 08.01 above.

36
 Start of the refining cycle
( Non Custom process )
08.09 CASE OF ALLOY WITH SILVER PERCENTAGE LESS THAN 12 %
After confirmation, the following message will appear on the monitor :

08.10 The Operator is now requested to load into the Glass Reactor the entire alloy to be
refined under “soft” granules form. It is important that the alloy granules have the largest
possible surface and the minimum possible thickness to optimise the refining cycle time of
execution.
During the above operations, the Operator must carefully perform the loading of the
granules :
1. Remove the loading mouth tap.
2. Insert the granules inside the glass balloon.
3. Distribute the granules all around the base of the balloon by using a glass pole.
4. Put back the loading mouth tap with care.
After having loaded the alloy granules the Refiner is in the Manual status, the Operator can
exercise, if any, some Refiner devices or can push MANUAL key to proceed with the program.
Check for the following monitor message :

Operator is now requested to push the START key.

37
 Start of the refining cycle
( Non Custom process )

08.11 CASE OF ALLOY WITH SILVER PERCENTAGE LESS THAN 12 %

After pushing START key, the following message will appear on the monitor, this is
the first message of the automatic cycle which is now started, the Refiner is in
Automatic status and the refining cycle is started :

38
 Start of the refining cycle
( Non Custom process )

08.12 CASE OF ALLOY WITH SILVER PERCENTAGE LESS THAN 12 %

After few minutes from the beginning of the automatic cycle the following message
will appear on the monitor and we can take this message as an example to understand
how to read the monitor :

08.13 HOW TO READ THE MONITOR

Elapsed time : it indicates the time (in minutes) from the beginning of the refining cycle.
Estimated time : it indicates the forecasted time to complete the refining (in hours : minutes).
Action time : it indicates (in sec.) the time from the beginning of the specific action under
execution (i.e. in our sample, the Software is performing the sequence : FIRST REACTION
and the action : REACTION, which will go for 900 sec. and the picture was taken after 75
sec. from the beginning of the action REACTION). For a complete description of sequences
and actions see Chapter 15 Samples of Software Tables.
Tot. ac. time : it indicates the total time of the action under execution (in sec.).
Cycle : it indicates which cycle the Software program is performing over the total number of
cycles (in case it is shown 1/1 it means that under execution is the first cycle of one total
cycles).
Weight, Au, Ag : it is a reminder of the alloy kind under refining.
Flow/sec : it indicates the memorized value of “Portata” (see Chapter A3.4 HOW TO
MEMORIZE THE PORTATA VALUE).
Total HCl - HNO3 : it shows the total c.c. of acids loaded in the reactor till that moment (i.e.
in our sample after 1 min. from the beginning of the refining cycle have been loaded 380 cc of
HCl and 80 c.c. of HNO3). The black indicators give an idea of the acids already loaded above
the total quantity needed to complete the refining cycle.
Devices indications : light on means activated, off means not activated.
39
 Start of the refining cycle
( Custom process )
08.14 CASE OF CUSTOM PROGRAM USED AS TEST PROGRAM
In order to perform the test of the efficiency of the Afftech 10000 refiner, the Custom
program (in this case) is used to exercise all the devices simulating a full refining
process in a very short time, approximately 10 minutes. The Operator is requested to
push the CUSTOM key :

08.15 After pushing CUSTOM the following image will appear on the monitor :

Operator is now requested to confirm the data by pushing the CONF. key. Now the Operator
can use the Command keyboard Manual keys to exercise the devices or can start the test
sequence by pushing the MANUAL key and then the START key.

40
 During the refining cycle

During the refining cycle the Operator is requested to often perform the following monitoring of the
refiner parts / devices :

1) Correct loading of the acids / water .

The liquids should enter into the glass Reactor when pinch valve is activated and
stop flowing when pinch valve is switched off.

2) Quantity of liquid inside the Glass reactor should never exceed the charging
mouth level.

3) Cooling water should always gently flow thru the refrigerant spiral glass ( in and
out ) in a moderate and constant way.

4) The temperature of fumes, after the non-return glass valve should not be hot,
check by hand contact on the plastic tube which must be less than body
temperature.

5) Control the efficiency of the non-return glass valve inside its glass protection : the
valve must be always free to fluctuate.

6) Control the level of liquid into Scrubber 1, if high foaming is present reduce
(when the cycle is finished) the level of liquid into Scrubber 1 in order to avoid,
for the next cycle, the risk of liquid flowing into Scrubber 2.

7) Control the Thermostat functionality : it goes off when the reactor temperature
will exceed the predefined level of about 80 °C and goes back on when the reactor
temperature is below that value.

41
 End of the refining cycle

At the end of the refining cycle, on the monitor will appear the message: PUSH START TO
RESTART. If the Operator doesn’t want to start a new cycle, instead of pushing the START
key he can push the Enter key to terminate the program and the following message will
appear on the monitor:

NOTE: After the end of the cycle, all devices are off but the Fumes / Vacuum Pump
which will remain on for safety reason.

At the end of the refining cycle, the Operator is requested to perform the collection of the
pure gold powder (see Appendix 1 : How to collect gold powder).

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APPENDIX 1 – OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

12 – HOW TO PERFORM A MANUAL REFINING CYCLE

13 – HOW TO COLLECT SILVER CHLORIDE POWDER

14 – HOW TO COLLECT GOLD POWDER

15 – SAMPLE OF SOFTWARE TABLES

AVAILIABLE TO AFFTECH CUSTOMERS ONLY
APPENDIX 2 – CHEMICALS

16 – CHEMICALS FOR SCRUBBERS 1, 2 AND 3

17 – CHEMICALS FOR SCRUBBERS 4, 5 AND 6

18 – GOLD PRECIPITATION WITH SODIUM DISULPHITE

19 – GOLD PRECIPITATION WITH FERROUS SULPHATE

AVAILIABLE TO AFFTECH CUSTOMERS ONLY
APPENDIX 3 – SAFETY PROCEDURES

20 – PROCEDURE TO MONITOR PRESENCE OF RESIDUAL GOLD

21 – PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

22 – TROUBLESHOOTING

23 – HOW TO DETERMINE AND MEMORIZE THE FLOW VALUE

AVAILIABLE TO AFFTECH CUSTOMERS ONLY
60