Search Documents

By D. Hamilton

The electrode of a PEM fuel cell consists of two distinct sections - the catalyst layer and the porous transport layer (PTL). There are several kinds of PTL material, although all use carbon fibres as the solid fraction. The fibres can be matted to form a paper, woven into a cloth, or chopped to form a felt. Despite the different morphologies of the media, they are all anisotropic in structure, that is the majority of continuous fibres lie perpendicular to the direction of bulk transport. Currently, no models account for anisotropy and all transport coefficients are calculated as volume weighted averages or from empirical correlations (not developed for fibrous porous media). The present work presents a new methodology for determining anisotropic transport coefficients in fibrous porous media. A numerical experimentation process is employed wherein random samples of the PTL are generated and used to solve a diffusion transport equation. Effective transport coefficients are determined by integration of flux across the domain boundaries once a steady state solution has been reached. Multiple random samples at each porosity are generated in order to predict statistical variance. The results are correlated for ease of implementation in full PEM models.

Jan 1, 2005

By J. Satur

In copper mineral processing, pyrite coexisting with copper sulfide minerals like chalcopyrite is separated by flotation as tailings and its oxidation in tailing dams causes the formation of acid mine drainage. This paper proposes carriermicroencapsulation (CME) as a new method for suppressing pyrite flotability, as well as its oxidation. In this method, an organic carrier combined with Ti is used to form a thin Ti02 layer on pyrite, which gives a hydrophilic property and acts as a protective coating against oxidation. To form the coating, a ground pyrite sample was treated with Ti-catechol complex solution under various conditions. Bubble pick-up experiments and flotation experiments showed that the treatment of pyrite with Ticatechol complex changed the hydrophobic nature of pyrite into hydrophilic even in the presence of xanthate as a flotation collector. Oxidation testing of the CME-treated pyrite by 0.02 kmol m-3 HN03 showed that Fe release was suppressed by the CME treatment with respect to the control. This is assumed to be due to the formation of Ti02 coating on the pyrite surface. The effect of CME treatment on chalcopyrite wettability is also discussed.

Jan 1, 2007

By W. Basuki, B. Setyotomo, L. Hakim, R. Hendrajaya

Due to high crack sensitivity of slab product of gas and oil line pipe application, its steel making process and alloy composition were evaluated and then improved to overcome its critical solidification process and reduced surface defects. The study was conducted at Slab Steel Plant Krakatau Steel. The purpose was to improve slab surface quality by reducing surface defects so that the slab surface doesn't need to be totally repaired. The method applied was by performing plant trial process, which the secondary process parameters such as alloying method and the casting parameters such as casting powder selection, metallurgical cooling, mould level control, and superheat were continuously monitored and then adjusted to the surface quality of the product. Based on the calculation of Ferrite potential of the steel, the chemical composition was designed to achieve optimum casting parameters in order to avoid high shrinkage during solidification. The results of the study are decreased surface defect quantity, and smooth casting process. The quantity of crack decreased by almost 90%. The slab surface repairing was significantly reduced from 85. % to less than 10%. These new casting parameters and developed alloy composition are then used and standardized for the mass production of the steel.

Jan 1, 2005

By A. J. Harrison

"The introduction of an amendment to the Mines Regulation Act in the Province of British Columbia, passed in July 1974, and similar amendments since enacted by other provinces introduced the Canadian underground mining industry to the use of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids.Few, if any, of the hydraulic circuits in use in underground mining at that time were specifically designed for use with fire-resistant fluids, compared with the increasing number of such circuits conceived and in production today. The technology required in designing equipment for use with fire-resistant fluids may be likened to that associated with conventional mineral oils, but, in many respects, a variety of additional and / or alternative considerations must be taken into account. The fast-increasing use and development of fire-resistant fluids throughout all facets of industry, world wide, during the past 20 years has led to a whole new technology in system construction and component design, whereby acceptable performance can be achieved . However , the transition from conventional mineral hydraulic oils has not been without its problems, particularly when retro-fit of existing units was involved."

Jan 1, 1981

By G. Mihaylov

The basic principles of systems analysis are presented. A model has been designed to determine the location of the Main opening in the presence of three or more stock orebodies. The necessary condition is to find a location for the Collection point which is an essential element in opening up each orebody (stock). The model takes into account the total transportation costs from each orebody to the collection point. Three variants are considered provided that the orefield is divided into two levels at least: - a collection point is designed at every level; - a collection point is designed at the lowest level, i.e. where the so-called concentration level is formed; - the collection point is located at a point between the planes of the two levels; The effect of the depth of mining and mine output on determining the method of opening up the orefield has been analyzed by considering a vertical and/or an inclined shaft. A function has been constructed which allows for investigating in both a static and dynamic regime the capital costs for constructing the whole complex including the shaft. The character of the function does not allow finding the global limits. Therefore, it is of particular importance to specify the limiting conditions. In this case these are the flow capacity of development openings and the shaft. The basic groups of cost and natural indicators for assessing and selecting an optimal technological solution have been systematized. The combined analysis of the two approaches to finding the location of the Main opening and determining the mining method enables us to determine when an inclined shaft is best, and the depth at which opening by a vertical shaft has no alternative. Thus, a transition area is formed for which the selection of an optimal technological solution requires an analysis similar to that proposed in this paper. Conclusions are finally drawn which serve as a basis for determining the areas of application of each opening, including the use of a combined scheme of mine opening. The approach presented can be used in both investigating the possibilities for opening up new orefields and reconstructing existing ones in cases when the mining operations go deeper.

Aug 1, 2013

By Roger C. Parsons

"The problems presented by ice formation and interference with processes, structures and mechanical operations in the mining industry can be expected to increase sharply as more of our mineraI needs are supplied from the far north. A process of rapid ice destruction is presented which lends itself to the effective removal or penetration of ice. Suggestions are offered for applying the system to problems related to mining activity in cold environments. The system can be readily adapted to large-scale operation, the reactant components being transported in crystalline form and volatilized on site.IntroductionThe number of operational mines in northern environments, relative to the number of mines in the temperate zone, will increase in the years ahead. This is not surprising, because:(a) in the past, those mines closest to centres of commerce had minimum transport charges and hence were more economic to develop;(b) great centres of commerce were far removed from northern environments;(c) the exhaustion of ores and lowering of grades in temperate zones now offset to some degree the extra transport costs applied to northern ores;(d) the abundance of excess energy in the north in the form of oil, gas and hydropower attracts mining as a means to justify its development; (e) assuming that the frequency of mineral occurrence north of the 52° N latitude is no different than south of it, there are many deposits waiting to be developed.As a result of current and projected activity in northern environments, we are faced today, and will be increasingly so in the future, with mining problems rarely encountered before-problems related to below-freezing temperatures. Engineering activity in permafrost regions will increase as new mining ventures are developed north of the 52° N latitude, roughly coinciding with the -1.1 ° C isotherm in Labrador, the upper temperature boundary for permafrost."

Jan 1, 1982

By E. Hinton, L. Bloomquist

"This paper describes a guidance system for autonomous underground mining vehicles, which does not require any infrastructure or inertial positioning systems to aid the guidance process.BackgroundINCO Limited mines approximately ten million tons per annum through 12 operating mines in the Sudbury, Ontario, area (Fig. 1). With challenges from operating in a cyclical marketplace as well as new technologies making alternative nickel ores more competitive to refine, the Mines Research department embarked on a strategy that pointed toward automation as a tool to help the company become even more economical in mining.The mining industry has been looking for ways and means to mine orebodies more and more inexpensively. Automation and the lessons learned from manufacturing had a great influence in the direction of research at INCO Limited over the past ten years. Guidance systems have evolved over the years but the majority of commercially available systems rely on some form of infrastructure. This, in part, has caused some resistance from operators to install and maintain automated or semi-automated systems for guidance of underground machinery.Internal industrial studies cited travel time to and from the workplace as one of the major time sinks in the shift of underground miners. Depending on the mine, it may be as much as two hours moving in and out of an area. Some work areas have accommodated this by having “hot changes” at the work place. However, at some point in time, there are two people tasked with the same job and on site at the same time to make this overlap occur.Tele-operation of underground hard rock equipment eliminated this overlap and also provided a comfortable environment in which to work. By taking advantage of the communications network installed, the miners proved that they could operate three machines with relative ease. This was accomplished by a vision-based, “painted line,” autonomous guidance system termed the light rope system.With a few years’ experience with the system, some issues have arisen, including the cost of the rope itself (Fig. 2).The vehicle’s route is limited to the paths defined by the light rope, and a system of switching power to the light rope to select different routes is required. The rope itself is subject to damage from nearby blasts. Also, the system offers no obstacle detection; the vehicle may be switched off as a means of shutting the machine down thus protecting personnel in the area."

Jan 1, 2001

By D. Saramak, Z. Naziemiec

"Chalcedonite is an unique rock due to the relatively small area of its occurrence. It also possesses multi-raw-material features therefore it should be given a special protection aiming at its complete and optimal utilization. It is the natural sedimentary rock and the only mine in Poland, located in Inowlodz, where the opencast mining from “Teofilow” deposit is carried out.Chalcedonite mainly consists of cryptocrystalline and microcrystalline chalcedony together with small amounts of autogenous and detrital quartz. The chalcedony itself is a fairy common mineral and many forms of its occurrence is known, some of them are semi-precious minerals. Among the most popular ones following can be found: agate, bloodstone, onyx, carnelian, chrysoprase. Many countries own chalcedony deposits: Australia, Brazil, India, Canada, Namibia Russia, South Africa. However chalcedony in its pure form does not occur in the mentioned chalcedonite rock. The pores, which take usually from 5% to 25% of volume and have sizes smaller than 0.5 mm, are the characteristic feature of all chalcedonite forms. The paper presents some crucial problems of its processing together with most significant directions of its applications. New method of chalcedonite enrichment based on densimetric separation (patented in Poland) is presented. Results of investigation show that the obtained products can increase quality of concrete and filter grits."

Jan 1, 2016

By G. A. Gamble

"The inlet air velocity profile of any surface mine ventilation fan is an important factor when designing the connecting ductwork from the mine shaft collar to the fan. Deficient fan performance can be the result of ductwork that adds unnecessary pressure loss and/or adversely influences the fan inlet air conditions (velocity profile). The need for optimized inlet air conditions begins with discussing the process of performance testing during the development of the fan performance curve. Additional discussions include design of the shaft collar connection and the connecting ductwork. A preferred design of ductwork for parallel fan installations will be illustrated.INTRODUCTIONThe inlet air velocity profile of any surface installed mine ventilation fan is one of the most important factors to consider when designing the connecting ductwork from the mine shaft collar to the fan. Oftentimes deficient fan performance can be traced to poorly designed ductwork that adds unnecessary pressure loss and/or adversely influences the fan inlet air conditions (velocity profile). Such designs may lead to added power requirement, excessive vibration and noise, and reduced fan performance.Understanding the need for optimized inlet air conditions begins with discussing the process utilized when factory testing takes place during the development of the fan performance curve.Additional discussions include design considerations for the shaft collar connection, the connecting ductwork, and fan inlet. Illustrations of cost savings and pressure losses will be included for audience consideration. The design of ductwork for parallel fan installations on the surface is another issue that requires consideration. A preferred method will be illustrated.The selection of accessory components, such as self-closing doors, can also add to the potential for reduced fan performance. Several components will be discussed.An elementary presentation of the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) Standard 201 “Fans and Systems” will be included to provide background for those audience members that want additional technical explanations of the need for a uniform inlet air velocity profile at the fan inlet."

Jan 1, 2019

By C. H. Lee, T. T. Wang

"Exampling of the tunneling task in the Tsengwen Reservoir Transbasin Diversion (TRTD) in southern Taiwan, this study investigates the application of the Drilling Survey System (DRISS) in both Drilling and Blasting (D&B)- and Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)-excavated sections. In the D&B section, a nonlinear relationship exists between drilling energy and uniaxial compressive strength of rock mass, in which a reasonable coefficient of determination can be analyzed statistically. Additionally, the DRISS accurately predicted an unfavorable section with a valuable position. The magnitude of uniaxial compressive strength back calculated using DRISS data also matches those acquired from geological investigations with different approaches. Study results indicate that the DRISS is an effective tool for fore-probing of both D&B- and TBM-excavated tunnels. INTRODUCTIONModern advancements in geological and geophysical investigations, and drilling techniques, have provided valuable information for detecting and interpreting geological conditions of rock tunnels with a resolution of several to ten of meters (Brückl et al., 2001, 2008, Lorang et al., 2005). Nevertheless, construction risks remain considerable during tunnel excavation, especially when a tunnel was excavated by a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). Predictions of the local fault, shear zone, and other minor geological features, which may cause moderate collapse or excessive deformation of rocks surrounding the tunnel, before tunnel excavation is highly desirable for high-quality tunnel construction and economically efficient project management.Rather than conventional geophysical prospection methodologies, which always favor large-scale investigation with moderate precision, this study focuses on the drilling method probing ahead of a tunnel. The goal of such an investigation is not only to prevent catastrophic collapse, but also to provide quantitative or semi-quantitative information for estimation of the mechanical parameters of rock mass.For the tunneling task in the Tsengwen Reservoir Transbasin Diversion (TRTD) in southern Taiwan, a drilling survey system is adopted for fore probing. Data collected from both drilling and blasting (D&B) and TBM-excavated sections are analyzed statistically and discussed. The applications of the Drilling Survey System (DRISS) are addressed accordingly."

Jan 1, 2015

By Mauro Chiesa

A. New Dictionary, Since 2007/8 Traditional concept of ?cycle? is dead A dearth of projects AND good metal prices suggests otherwise In a depletion-business, good times for any greenfields in 2-3 yrs! ?Balance? sheet means quality assets = quality capital So, de-risk the assets, and ration the capital ?Replacement costs > historical costs ?Discounted assets depleting; replacement costs need self-financing (FCF) ?Public-sector slows permits, avoids assets and wants more of FCF ?Capital ?markets? are now ?market fragments? ..and? ??Shareholder? has changed from ?growth? to ?income + performance? ?Higher search costs, higher capital costs and higher cost of capital

May 1, 2013

By C. A. Biley

"A dedicated iron removal stage was installed at Anglo American Platinum’s Rustenburg Base Metals Refiners (RBMR) during an expansion project which began execution in 2010. The Pressure Iron Removal (PIR) process aims to precipitate iron from a nickel leach solution under medium temperature (145 °C) oxidative conditions using caustic for neutralisation. Since commissioning, the process has been robust in removing iron from the refinery but has shown significant variability in the residues produced. These residues, which are typically comprised of ferrihydrite, hematite or natrojarosite, have varying iron contents and different physical properties which have implications for their filtration and ultimate removal from the refinery. Since over 95% of nickel plated at RBMR passes through the PIR section, volumetric constraints caused by poor filtration performance directly influence nickel production and stabilisation of this process remains central to the continued ramp-up of the refinery to full nameplate capacity. This paper details the development of the PIR process and the journey from concept to implementation. Recent laboratory and plant scale tests have highlighted the importance of the initial phase formed in the autoclave for the ultimate residue requiring filtration and how the feed acid concentration is a critical control parameter. On this basis, a new caustic dosing philosophy was implemented which improved pH control in the autoclave. Further optimisation of the PIR process is on-going.INTRODUCTIONIn 2010, an expansion of Rustenburg Base Metal Refiners (RBMR) to increase nickel production from 21 to 33 ktpa began execution. The management of iron was pivotal in the ultimate configuration in the new circuit and one of the primary differences from the original circuit was the addition of a dedicated iron removal stage: Pressure Iron Removal (PIR). A significant drive for this new unit operation was to facilitate the separation of iron from other leach residues. Not only did this result in a significant decrease in the amount of leach residue but, without the constraints associated with iron precipitation during leaching, has permitted more aggressive leaching conditions and, correspondingly, greater throughput and efficiencies.However, as with many commercial implementations of even mature technologies, the journey from development to implementation has presented challenges for the continued ramp-up of the refinery to full nameplate capacity. Specifically, since all nickel bearing leach solution must pass through the PIR section prior to the nickel purification and recovery circuit, throughput difficulties in the PIR section can directly impact supply of feed to the nickel tank house. Since commissioning, the PIR autoclave has effectively removed iron from the refinery, but has shown significant variation in the solids phases produced in the autoclave. This variation presents difficulties for the filtration of the discharge slurry and represents a key throughput limitation which periodically impacts production. Additionally, the increasing production rates associated with the ramp-up of the refinery have resulted in a significant increase in the required volumetric throughput through the PIR process. This has placed even greater emphasis on improving the stability of the solid phase produced in the autoclave, ultimately targeting an easily filterable residue with high iron content."

Jan 1, 2016

By Katsutoshi Saibara

Network communication note is a cloud system for an earthwork project. It enables backhoe operators and dump truck drivers to monitor their own works in progress currently and performed up to the present, and to have opportunity to reflect on their own bearings in the earthwork operations, and then could increase their situational awareness to the actual work conditions. First, this paper presents problems and purpose. Secondly, the configuration of the network communication note is reported. Thirdly, examples of communications enhanced by the network communication note are shown. Finally, remarks are described.

Aug 1, 2013

By Eric J. Grimsey, Don C. Ibana, David E. Grimsey

The segregation process as applied to nickel laterite ores involves the formation of gaseous nickel and iron chlorides which are subsequently reduced to form ferronickel on the surface of a solid carbon reductant. A fundamental study of the process has been carried out using limonite, nontronite and garnierite ores. The study highlighted the significant impacts that ore mineralogy and carbon addition have on the amount of nickel which is segregated rather than retained within the ore due to in-situ reduction. These important aspects affecting nickel recovery and the success of the process are discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 2017

By Brooke Clements

The Buffalo Head Hills region is located approximately 350 kilometres northwest of the city of Edmonton in northcentral Alberta (Figure 1). The Alberta diamond joint venture consisting of Ashton Mining of Canada Inc., Alberta Energy Company Ltd and Pure Gold Minerals Inc. began exploring for kimberlites in the Buffalo Head Hills region in late 1996. At the time, the Mountain Lake diatreme, located 200 kilometres to the southwest, was the only reported kimberlitic rock in Alberta (Leckie et al., 1997, Figure 1). Exploration efforts since 1996 have successfully identified a new diamondiferous kimberlite province in Canada.

May 1, 2001

By N. H. Grace

"IntroductionA STRIKING FEATURE of the past twenty years has been the application of organized scientific and industrial research to problems of national defence and security and to the development of our natural resources. It has been shown that effective research improves public health, increases the productivity of land, makes mineral wealth available, and increases the efficiency and productive capacity of industry. Alberta is a region bounteously provided with a variety of natural resources, and the Province has entered into a period of unprecedented industrial development. There is, surely, a great opportunity to bring scientific research to bear •on problems associated with the development of these natural resources.I propose to spend a little time discussing the term 'research', indicating something of the various types of research and those fields which appear to •be the particular responsibility of government bodies. It seems logical, also, to outline the course of development .of industrial and scientific research in the English-speaking world during the past twenty-odd years.Research is investigation, examination, or enquiry, and involves the application of human thought, and actions, to the unfolding of new knowledge. That knowledge may assume a variety of forms. Fundamental knowledge may be new facts related to some form of matter, to motion, space, thought, and so on. Those engaged in applying the natural sciences have no monopoly on research as this term is equally valid for those engaged in obtaining, sorting, relating, and interpreting the facts of history, literature."

Jan 1, 1952

By G. G. Li

"A dynamic ventilation-modeling package, VREX, was used to simulate the mine activities through tracking the equipment movements in underground workings and determine the airflow demand for a new production scenario in a ventilation-on-demand (VOD) system. It incorporates the mine development data from a discrete event simulation and balances the ventilation network using the CANVENT ventilation solver. A case study was performed to demonstrate the capabilities of the software, evaluate the performance of the network and determine the potential energy savings for implementing VOD in a deep mine operation.INTRODUCTIONThe ventilation cost of an underground mine can be significant—up to 50% of the mine’s energy consumption could be used to run fans and provide heat/refrigeration to meet the specified production environment for workers and equipment. The VOD system has proven to be more efficient in operating the fans and supplying the amount of air corresponding to the mine activities taking place in underground workings (Hardcastle, Kocsis, & O’Connor, 2006). In order to properly solve and evaluate the VOD system, a dynamic ventilation modeling software VREX—the ventilation rules engine has been developed to simulate the mine activities and determine the airflow demand for each production scenario within an operation period (Dasys & Cameron, 2011).VREX is a decision support tool, backed by the CANVENT mine ventilation solver (Li, Kocsis, & Hardcastle, 2009), for determining the outcomes of network configuration changes over time. The software incorporates the mine development data with ventilation modeling through the discrete event simulation (DES) performed by SimMineTM. As it simulates the air requirements for different vehicles and activities, VREX can evaluate both the performance of the ventilation system and the potential economic benefits of making operational or technological changes (Pritchard, 2010). For example, the model can be used to assess the economic and environmental impacts arising from modifying regulations to support the use of electric or lower emission vehicles. The combination of DES and ventilation modeling provides a new technology to generate the production scenarios according to mine schedules and activities and to determine the potential benefits for various levels of ventilation control, such as time interval and work shift change."

Jan 1, 2019

By M. E. Moraes Castanho de Almeida, A. Ribeiro Cotri

Recovery of cobalt to produce high grade cobalt sulfate from cobalt concentrate by leaching and solvent extraction was investigated. The PLS typically contains Co 10g/l, Mg 2g/l, Fe < 10ppm, Mn < 200ppm, insolubles <100ppm and is extracted with 20wt% Cyanex??272. The typical strip solution contains Co 60g/l, Mg 0.03g/l, and was sent to the current process for the production of cobalt sulfate heptahydrate. The cobalt yield of the plant with two extraction steps was 92%, with three steps was 97% and with four steps 99%. The extraction stage used the concept of "scrubbing" in a countercurrent system. In the first stage of extraction pH was 4.8, and in the last stage of extraction pH 5.5 to promote the exchange of magnesium in the organic with cobalt contained in the PLS. Following the extraction, when using two scrubbing stages, Co/Mg selectivity between of 2,000-3,000 was obtained, and with three scrubbing stages, selectivity was greater than 6,000. The desired selectivity was reached when using a scrubbing configuration with O/A ratio of 10:1. The typical cobalt sulfate heptahydrate had the following composition: Co 20wt%, Mg < 0.01wt%, Fe < 5ppm, Mn < 0.01wt%, Cu < 0.01wt%, Zn < 0.01wt%.

Jan 1, 2014

By Yan Jie

The oxygen-enriched bottom-blowing continuous converting process for copper matte was recently developed by the China-ENFI Engineering Corporation. The first commercial plant based on this technology was successfully commissioned at the Yuguang smelter in China in March 2014. The present paper describes this new continuous converting process and compares technical characteristics with other continuous converting processes including: Kennecott-Outokumpu flash converting, the Mitsubishi Process, the Noranda Converter and TSL continuous converting. The bottom-blowing oxygenated continuous converter with competitive capex and opex costs is seen as an attractive alternative to the Peirce-Smith converter.

Jan 1, 2014

By Simon P. Fricker

Gold drugs have been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis since the mid 20th century as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) class. Methotrexate is often the preferred DMARD, and with the advent of new therapies gold drugs are now used infrequently. Since the introduction of auranofin in 1985 there has been no new clinically approved gold drug. In spite of this apparent lack of progress there has been a great deal of interest in the use of gold compounds for cancer therapy and early promising indications were achieved with a gold phosphine complex [Au(dppe)2]Cl. This compound was not entered for clinical trials, however, due to problems with cardiotoxicity highlighted during pre-clinical toxicology studies. Gold(III) is isoelectronic (d8) with platinum(II) and likewise forms square planar complexes. It is therefore tempting to speculate that such complexes would have similar antitumor activity to cisplatin. In order to stabilise the gold(III) oxidation cycloaurated complexes were synthesised with a single mononegative bidentate ligand, damp, (2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl), and two monodentate anionic ligands e.g. Cl or acetate. The damp ligand forms part of a five-membered chelate ring. The monodentate ligands are readily hydrolysed and are available for substitution. These compounds had limited anti-tumor activity in in vivo against human tumor xenografts. Mechanistic studies indicated that these compounds had a different mechanism of action to cisplatin. An alternative molecular target for these compounds is biologically important thiol-containing molecules such as the cysteine protease cathepsin B. Modifications were made to the Au(III) damp structure to give compounds with a six-membered chelate ring. These compounds were shown to be inhibitors of cathepsin B. Compounds were also tested for cytotoxicity against a panel of human tumor cell lines. Three compounds were selected for further evaluation against a human colon tumor xenograft. The compounds showed modest anti-tumor activity but with no marked improvement over the parent Au(III)damp complexes. Initial indications are that Au(III) compounds targeted against disease-specific thiol-containing biological molecules have potential as drugs, particularly for cancer. However, further work is required to produce a target-specific drug with a suitable pharmacological activity and toxicity profile.

Oct 1, 2003