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By M. R. Shadnam

This contribution provides an assessment of research and development efforts to optimize SOx, NOx and mercury capture in flue gas. Coa, characteristics and combustion conditions in a power plant have an impact on the types and concentration of flue gas pollutants. These factors can also affect the amount of pollutant removed. This contribution would also provide a comparative study of the technologies that holistically aim remova, of SOx, NOx and mercury altogether in coal-fired power plants. A portion of this contribution provides background information on regulatory drivers.

Jan 1, 2010

By T. Kagawa

Ever-increasing demands for non-ferrous metals owing to population growth and improvements in the standard of living in the world, under the constraint of limited availability of natural resources, would easily make us imagine that more efficient and sustainable developments in mining and smelting activities are required in the near future with due consideration for environmental concerns. In order to realize the efficient and sustainable development of mining and smelting activities and operations, the following issues are indispensable: (1) to investigate the up-to-date pollution control technologies of mine and smelter, (2) to promote those technologies, (3) to develop technologies which are environmentally friendly. This paper discusses the recent technologies for environmental conservation/prevention and their diffusion in the world, and also the key technologies required for the most desirable sustainable development.

Jan 1, 2007

By J. E. Gill, A. R. Byers

"The property of Sladen Malartic Mines, Limited, is in the northern half of Fourniere township, Abitibi county, Quebec. The group is large, but the part so far found to be of economic interest is a strip 3,200 feet long between the Canadian Malartic property to the west and the East Malartic and National Malartic properties to the east ( Fig. 1).The original claims were staked in 1923 and 1924 by St. B. Sladen and H. S. Kennedy because gold was known to occur on claims nearby. In 1928, detailed mapping of the Malartic Gold Mines property (now Canadian Malartic) showed the presence of an east-west gold-bearing zone traceable almost to the Sladen boundary. During the winter of 1929, a hand-driven drill was used to secure short sections of core through casing pipe sunk to bed-rock. This proved the existence of the main Sladen ore zone, but it was not until the price of gold was increased, in 1934, that serious work was attempted.Underground work was started in 1935 and milling in January, 1938. To the end of 1945, 168,882 oz. of gold were recovered from 1,641,974 tons of ore, an average of 0.103 oz. a ton.GEOLOGYThe bed-rock underlying' the Sladen Malartic property consists mainly of Precambrian greywacke and volcanics that appear to form a conformable series with a general northwest strike and vertical to steep northerly dip. Except where disturbed locally by drag folds or faults, tops face north. Intrusive rocks that range in composition from diorite to granite cut the sediments and volcanics. The basic types, generally quartz diorite and diorite, form dykes or sills in the volcanic rocks. The more acidic types, mainly quartz syenite and related porphyries, intrude the volcanics and the sediments in the form of dykes, sills, and larger, stock-like bodies.The orebodies are parts of slightly shattered or brecciated zones, mainly in greywacke, but partly in syenite, diorite, and volcanics, that have been more or less replaced by fine-grained quartz, pyrite, and minor amounts of sphalerite, galena, sylvanite, petzite, and gold."

Jan 1, 1954

By F. S. Su, P. Z. Pan, X. T. Feng, F. Yan, W. W. Ji

"This paper aims to simulate the spalling failure behavior in hard rock based on a self-developed numerical model, i.e. a rock discontinuous cellular automaton (RDCA). A crack initiation and propagation criterion is proposed based on the plastic strain, which is used to link the continuity and discontinuity during the failure process. The discontinuities of rock, such as cracks and other internal boundaries, are represented by discontinuous displacement functions, i.e. tip enrichment and step enrichment. The partition of unity is used to improve integral precision of the elements intersected internal boundaries, which is traced by a level set method. Arbitrary crack geometries can be conveniently represented and it does not require any remeshing in the modeling of crack initiation, propagation and coalescence. Numerical modeling of excavation in hard rock using RDCA is conducted. The spalling failure process of hard rock induced by excavation is well simulated. The depth and shape of hard rock spalling failure are good agreement with in situ observation.INTRODUCTIONThe excavation in rock mass is more and more popular. At the same time, the disasters, such as rock burst, rock spalling and falling etc, induced by excavation are quite prominent. Numerical modeling is an important way to help us understand the failure mechanism of rocks. Many numerical methods have been used to simulate the excavation of rock mass. For example, the finite element method (FEM) (Karakus and Fowell, 2003), the discrete element method (DEM)(Cundall and Strack, 1979, Labra et al., 2008), Finite difference method (FDM)(Zhu et al., 2009), Element Free Galerkin Method (Belytschko et al., 1994), Discontinuous displacement analysis (DDA) (Shi, 1988) and Boundary element method (BEM) (Katsikadelis, 2002, Chen and Hong, 1992) are commonly found in the stability analysis of excavation in rocks. In the modeling of crack propagation or excavation, most of these methods are tedious since the internal boundaries have to be consistent with the element boundaries. And in many cases, the remesh has to be conducted. In recent years, people are interested in particular types of FEMs, such as the extended finite-element method (XFEM), the particle discretization scheme finite-element method(PDS-FEM(Hori et al., 2005, Oguni et al., 2009)), the combined finite-discrete element method (FEM/DEM) (Munjiza and Wiley, 2004, Cai, 2008) and spectral-element method(Gharti et al., 2012) etc."

Jan 1, 2015

By C. L. Reichardt

Pressure exerted on gold producers by regulators, project financiers and civil society in the wake of the Baia Mare tailings spill in Romania during 2000 prompted most responsible gold companies to sign up to the International Cyanide Management Code for the Manufacture, Transport and Use of Cyanide in the Production of Gold (the Code). The Code stipulates a ?cradle to grave? approach more comprehensive than that applied to any other mining reagent and poses particular challenges for operators who use cyanide-bearing tailings for backfill. This paper examine some of the challenges for Code compliance facing deep underground gold mines that employ backfill technology, most particularly the requirement to demonstrate that the potential migration of cyanide (and its degradation products) from emplaced backfill will not have an unacceptable impact on worker health and safety or the receiving environment, either during mine life or after closure. Although the Code only contains a single reference to backfill, more careful consideration confirms that most sections of the Code that deal with tailings management are potentially applicable to mines where tailings material is used for backfill, as are certain principles pertaining to aspects of operations, worker safety, emergency response, training and dialogue with stakeholders. For gold mines of the Far West Rand, the most significant cyanide-related risks associated with backfill operations relate to worker exposure to cyanide-bearing seepage and HCN gas. There is potential for seepage of cyanide-bearing water from backfill to compromise the beneficial use of surface and groundwater, and thus impact on downstream users and ecosystems. However, the extreme depth of mining and the specific geological and hydrological controls on the Far West Rand suggest that the potential environmental risks associated with backfill are likely to be considerably less significant than the cyanide-related risks to the workforce.

May 1, 2007

By Al Gagnon

Since start-up in 1972, many circuit problems have been encountered, most of which were related to the abundance of fines (-28 mesh), which the circuit had not been designed to treat. The major problems associated with the original circuit included excessive loss of magnetite, reduced throughput during periods of a high proportion of fine coal in the plant feed and low yield in the fine coal circuit. This paper outlines the coal processing circuit at Fording Coal Limited as it exists today, with emphasis on the changes to the original fine coal treatment circuit.

Jan 1, 1978

By D. Hu, L. Matzar, J. Hampton, M. Gutierrez

Nanodarcy permeability is common in many oil- and gas-bearing formations requiring unconventional stimulation technologies, such as hydraulic fracturing (HF), which can connect the isolated hydrocarbon-rich pores with a wellbore through induced fracture networks. Even though a dense induced fracture network is capable of accessing economic amounts of hydrocarbons, much of the rock between and very close to the fracture network is still un-accessed and contains extremely low permeability. Inducing fracture networks into brittle rock can create large amounts of micro failures in surrounding regions that are not connected to the wellbore, as can be seen in Fig. 1(a) from the very wide acoustic emissions (AEs) cloud associated with a narrow fracture generation. It is possible in certain types of rock to increase the effective matrix permeability in localized regions based on the damage associated with the surrounding hydraulic fractures and subsequent high stress concentrations along localized pre-existing potential failure zones. To study this problem, laboratory HF tests were performed at true-triaxial stress state in brittle crystalline rock while monitoring AEs. The AE associated with HF was analyzed for source parameters using the moment tensor inversion method called Simplified Green’s Functions for Moment Tensor Analysis (SiGMA). Using the moment tensor for each individual AE event, the mode of failure was determined. Crack slip directions and crack face normal directions were also found, along with the relative volume of individual micro failures as well as a damage parameter. The associated source parameters were used to classify differing regions of damage in the sample induced from HF and correlate these regions of differing damage to the effective drainage region. Shown in Fig. 1(b) is a near-wellbore (NWB) region that contained three times larger average relative volumetric deformation of individual tensile AE events than the average tensile AE event volume from the entire sample. Because of the large difference in micro fracture volumetric deformation for the NWB region compared to the entire sample, predictions of HF induced damage must be included in reservoir drainage predictions.

Jan 1, 2015

By M. Tanaka, Y. Sato, H. Narita, S. Alam, T. Ogata

To ensure a stable supply of rare earth elements (REEs), it is highly necessary to establish the corresponding recycling technologies for RE magnets and phosphors in inplant wastes and endoflife products. Solvent extraction using 2ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono2ethylhexyl ester (EHPNA) is often applied in the separation and purification of REEs. In this study, the equilibrium distribution ratios of neodymium and dysprosium between 1 mol/L nitrate solution and the EHPNA in an alkane diluent were measured at 298K. The experimental data were analyzed by correcting the nonideal behavior of the organic phase using the Alstad empirical equation under the assumption that a complex with a molar ratio of 1:6 (REE:extractant monomer) was formed. The model correlated well with the experimental data and the extraction equilibrium constants were obtained. The extractant equilibrium constants obtained by this methodology would be useful in the design of REE recycling processes using solvent extraction.

Jan 1, 2014

Over five decades ago Kitchener et al. in England and La Mer and Healy in the US were advancing our understanding and application of flocculants, primarily related to water treatment and filtration of sludge. This paper identifies the beneficial uses of flocculants in the mining industry and revisits some less common applications. Flocculants are used in unique ways in the mining industry: (a) to increase the effectiveness of sediment ponds to achieve discharge compliance; (b) to eliminate air emissions and costs associated with concentrate drying; (c) to reduce soil loss by applying a flocculant to erodible soils, and reducing wind and water erosion; (d) to remove/thicken metal precipitates in acid rock drainage treatment; and (e) to enhance clarification and thickening in mineral processing. The mechanism of how flocculants, coagulations and potentially-determining ions function is described and how their use can be controlled and optimized. The potential toxic effects of flocculants and coagulants when used to achieve effluent permit discharge compliance for suspended solids is discussed. A review of numerous best management practice (BMP) guidelines for the design and operation of sediment ponds treating mine site runoff to remove total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity revealed an absence of a predictive methodology to address regulatory discharge compliance for TSS concentration, turbidity and flocculant-induced toxicity. An essential component of pond design is the need to determine whether flocculants and/or other settling aids are required based on the site-specific soil particle size distributions upslope of the pond. Procedures are provided to predict the need for settling aids and estimate pond discharge quality and downstream impact for TSS, turbidity, toxicity and sub-lethal toxicity. The need to develop BMP guidelines are discussed for (a) the application of flocculant to surface soils to reduce erosion, (b) the application of flocblocks to increase the ?sediment control? aspects of erosion and sediment control, as part of the mine site erosion control plan strategy and (c) the application of flocculant to silt socks to treat mine site runoff.

Aug 1, 2013

By Guocheng Pan

"Although many factors play roles in the estimation of recoverable reserves, smoothing effect and conditional bias are considered major geostatistical issues in the estimation. This paper introduces measures for smoothing effect and conditional bias, and provides insights into their relation to the estimation of recoverable reserves. Both smoothing effect and conditional bias are intrinsic to the information effect and kriging estimators. For a given level of drilling information, however, it is possible to identify the optimal search radius that minimizes conditional bias. Furthermore, it is also feasible to define variance correction factor for reduction of the smoothing effect from exploration block models. Both of these components are key to the accurate estimation of recoverable reserves. IntroductionThe accurate estimation of recoverable reserves is critical to decision making in different phases of feasibility study and mine planning. Much attention for improving the methodology of estimation has been focussed on the effect of the change-of-support (Parker, 1980; Dagdelen, 1996). For example, it is essential to make a volume- variance correction to the estimate of multiple indicator kriging (Hoerger, 1992). When the size of block, b, in the geostatistical model differs from that of selective mining unit (SMU), v, a volume-variance correction is warranted for the prediction of recoverable reserves.Most mining plans and decisions are made prior to the availability of high density blast-hole samples. In most mining operations, the true SMU grade Zv is unknown at the time of selection. Instead, the selection is based on the estimate Z v**derived from high density blast-hole samples within the deposit G. Nevertheless, the estimate Z v * of recoverable reserves in the stage of mine planning is derived from exploration data. At the end, the production result must be reconciled to the estimate Z v * . In other words, the selection is based on Z v** from blast-hole samples, while the final production figures are reconciled to Z v * from exploration drilling. For a given preselected cutoff grade z0, the actual mining panels will consist of the units having the estimated grade Z v** =z0 rather than the true grade Zv =z0. The difference between Z v** and Zv is usually of less concern."

Jan 1, 1998

By H. Assadi, S. Reutzel, D. M. Herlach

Intermetallics exhibit unique solidification behaviour due to their chemical longrange order. This includes, for instance, generally slow solidification kinetics, and in some cases, an anomalous partitioning behaviour. In the present work the electromagnetic levitation technique - complemented by theoretical modelling - is used to explore various aspects of this behaviour, as observed in solidification of B2 phase in undercooled melts of the Ni-Al system. Moreover, a phase-field model is developed and used to illustrate the effect of chemical order on the solidification kinetics of a B2 phase in a model system. The phase-field model provides an additional basis for the simulation of solidification microstructures in intermetallic forming systems. Both experimental studies and theoretical work signify the role of chemical order in solidification of intermetallics.

Jan 1, 2006

By Egbert Burchardt

The challenge of "ore bodies getting steadily harder and lower in grade" was brought to light during the first oil crisis in the 70's. Shortly afterwards, HPGRs appeared on the scene with the promise of saving energy. This combined with developments in wear protection for the rolls ushered in a period of trade-off studies that considered the HPGR as an option to improve project economics or to even make projects feasible at all. Since then, applications of HPGRs at Cerro Verde (Freeport), PTFI Grasberg (Freeport), Mogalakwena (Anglo Platinum), Tarkwa (Goldfields), Boddington (Newmont), Penasquito (Goldcorp), and others have contributed to the creation of a formidable basket of operating experience. Collected through years of successful operation, this information has been used to validate design criteria, scale-up factors and establishing a clearer picture of what "to do" and what "not to do". This paper compares results from various mining operations using HPGRs in their processing plants. Some of the lessons learnt in different operating environments are reviewed in order to support proper implementation and operation of HPGR's. Some of the development programs that have been initiated to improve wear life of the tyres and to reduce overall operating costs are reviewed. It is timely to summarize today?s experience and analyse its implications for existing and new operations.

Jan 1, 2012

By Ozdemir. O.

Magnesium additions to aluminum enhance strength and hardness, lowering density, and improving corrosion resistance. However, during melting and casting processes, significant amounts of magnesium are lost due to selective oxidation. Preventing these losses would reduce the production cost and improve the quality of the final product. The effects of strontium addition on the oxidation behaviour of aluminum-0.5% and 1% magnesium alloys were investigated by monitoring sample weight gains with time with a thermogravimetric balance at 750°C. Sample cross sections have been examined using Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscope.

Jan 1, 2004

By G. C. Bateman

THE cause of silicosis and its prevention have held the attention of medical men and mine operators for many years and at the present rime the study of this disease is more than ever to the fore, even though a considerable abatement in the incidence of silicosis has been noted of late. This abatement is due to individual and collective efforts. The Industry is keenly alive to the situation and much research is being carried on. Silica dust is assumed to be a contributing factor in the cause of silicosis. How it acts progressively in the early silicoric is nor fully understood. As the study advances, more effective measures of control may be evolved. At present the Industry has three known methods of reducing the incidence: 1. By thorough X-ray examination of all applicants, with special reference to chest conditions. Those who are considered to be susceptible to the disease are prevented from entering the industry. 2. Thorough ventilation of the mine. 3. Control of tuberculosis in mining centres and removal of miners when first symptoms of tuberculosis become apparent. In 1934, the Ontario Mining Association formed a Committee, known as the Technical Silicosis Research Committee, to study and supervise work on problems related to silicosis. This Committee obtained the full-rime services of a mining engineer to carry our research work at the mines in the Province of Ontario. The Ontario Mining Association has also provided funds for the purpose of carrying on research work along pathological and biological lines. This work is being done in the Department of Medical Research of the University of Toronto, in the Banting Institute, under the supervision of Sir Frederick Banting. The Silicosis Committee work in full cooperation with the doctors in the Banting Institute and provide material from the mines for the it use.

Jan 1, 1936

By H. Vermette, J. Demers, R. Leclerc, P. Bergeron, P. Hudon, A. Lessard

The Arvida Smelter marked its 80th anniversary in 2006. Arvida currently operates 6 potrooms equipped with prebaked side-feeding pots producing 160 000t of aluminum per year, requiring the supply of 300 000t of alumina per year. In the past, to ensure reliable alumina supplies to the pots, especially in winter, a safety stock of alumina was kept inside the plant. The improved reliability of shipping on the Saguenay River has cut the need for such a stock. However, the stoppage of 8 Soderbergtechnology potrooms, starting in the 1980s up to 2003, generated alumina from the cleaning of pot pits, totaling 18000t and leading to the building-up of a significant alumina stock again. Concerns over working conditions, effect on potroom operations, and dust emissions prevented Arvida from tackling effectively this impressive alumina stock. Yet the increasing cost of alumina has created a strong motivation to use the stored alumina. In 2004 Arvida launched a project to recycle the stored alumina. This 4-year project aimed at clearing the alumina stock without affecting the operation of the smelter. It involved changing work organization, improving equipment and controlling the effect of the recycled alumina on the smelting process and working conditions.

Jan 1, 2006

By M. E. Holter

"Three main potash members are recognized within the Prairie Evaporite Formation of Saskatchewan and have been designated, in ascending order, the Esterhazy, Belle Plaine and Patience Lake members. Each is composed of sylvinite near the geographic center of the member and becomes increasingly carnallitic marginally. Each stratigraphically higher member has a narrower carnallitic margin. The sharp contact between carnallitic and non-carnallitic components of the formation describes a surface which may be traced regionally and is not related to bed-ding. The contact rises higher in the stratigraphic section toward margins of members. Within each of the three members, analyses indicate that carnallite becomes more abundant toward the north whereas sylvite and insolubles, increase toward the south. Within each member, areas rich in carnallite are coincident with areas in which the member as a whole is thicker than averag,e. The Belle Plaine Member contains the highest concentrations of carnallite, the Esterhazy the lowest. A maximum content of about 30 per cent sylvite is common to all three members. Insoluble contents increase in successively higher members.Map studies are combined to outline the economic potential of the potash beds in terms of depth to the top of the Prairie Evaporite, ""salt-back"" thicknesses and sylvite grades for each member."

Jan 1, 1971

By D. Murray

A 2-hectare uranium tailings area has been reclaimed. The exposed tailings of 1.4 hectares were capped with glacial till and vegetated with grasses and legumes. The water running through the tailings was diverted around the tailings in a line ditch and treated with sodium hydroxide and barium chloride. Difficulties occurred in placing the till capping because of the low bearing strength and the uneven surface of the tailings. This led to varying thicknesses of till and the need for manual labour in some areas. Total reclamation costs were $32,200, with vegetation establishment costs at $13,700 per hectare. This report provides a record of work for use in assessing the long-term suitability of these treatments.

Jan 1, 1979

By Mohammad. M. Khajeh

Rock mechanical properties are important parameters in geomechanical simulation. Considering stochastic heterogeneous models rather than conventional homogeneous layer cake models leads to more realistic simulation results and uncertainty assessment. These heterogeneous models are usually fine scale models generated by geostatistical techniques. Although considering high resolution property models is desirable, geomechanical simulation with a fine scale model is not computationally feasible for full?field, coupled geomechanical-flow simulation. Upscaling of property models is necessary to move from fine scale/high resolution property models to coarser scale/low resolution models appropriate for simulation. Local numerical upscaling was proposed by Khajeh et al. (2012) to describe the macroscopic elastic behavior of complex heterogeneous media and is expanded upon in this work. This numerical technique is not restricted to specific geologies as typical analytical techniques are. Moreover, transversely isotropic deformation is considered rather than the usual assumption of isotropic deformation. To compare the accuracy of the upscaling methodology, in this study shear strain is considered as the geomechanical response of a synthetic facies model and the response of the coarse scale model is compared to other conventional analytical averaging techniques. It is found that the numerical upscaling technique better approximates the geomechanical response of the fine scale model.

Jun 1, 2012

Keeping the sediment on the mine site and out of the water course is essential from the regulatory, environmental and sustainability perspectives. Regulation of this aspect of mining is embedded in environmental legislation and government receiving water quality standards, and government control has apparently been considered to be the most appropriate method to define mine site discharge standards and the environmental implications of sediment in downstream watercourses. A literature search for guidelines for the site specific design and operation of sediment ponds treating mine site runoff to remove total suspended solids, turbidity and flocculant-induced toxicity, revealed little information on the mining industry?s and government?s roles in defining the ?how to achieve? related to sediment pond design. Is there a need or reason for an industry-driven leadership to clearly define the ?how to? keep the sediment on the mine site and out of the water course? Currently, this issue is addressed in Canada by a federal mining regulation for metal mines which specifies discharge quality for sediment. This paper focuses on the method used in British Columbia, Canada, to regulate and provide a scientific methodology to control the discharge of sediment from mine sites. Management plans relative to this topic are discussed and are considered to have value from the exploration, construction, operation and the onset of closure phases. In addition, the balance and linkage between the erosion control management plan and the sediment pond management plan are discussed in terms of how they may be designed to complement each other to lower the risk of exceeding discharge and receiving water quality standards. If there were an industry-driven standard, or guidance document relative to addressing sediment release, it would benefit mining companies by eliminating the repetitive analysis of this topic for each new mine, mine expansion, and mine modification; also, government may often replace certain aspects of permitting with a regulation, if there is a government/industry established standard defining Best Achievable Technology (e.g. the Canadian Metal Mining Effluent Regulations).

Aug 1, 2013

By Peter J. Barnard

Mitochondria play a key role in the regulation of apoptosis (cell death) and in diseases characterised by abnormal apoptotic responses such as cancer. Mitochondrial membrane permeabilisation (MMP), regulated by the mitochondrial permeability transition pore complex, is widely accepted as being central to the process of cell death. As a result there has been considerable recent interest in targeting mitochondrial cell death pathways in the development of new chemotherapeutic agents.(1) There is potential to overcome the two overriding problems in cancer chemotherapy?the common occurrence of drug-resistant tumour cells and the lack of selectivity of cancer drugs in differentiating between tumour cells and normal tissues. Significantly, carcinoma cells have an elevated mitochondrial membrane potential relative to normal cells and lipophilic cations are concentrated within mitochondria in response to mitochondrial membrane potentials. There is potential for the selective targeting to tumour cells with compounds having optimal lipophilic-hydrophilic character. Research stemming from the early 1980?s points to two distinct classes of Au(I) phosphine antitumour agents where an antimitochondrial mode of action has been implicated: (i) neutral linear two-coordinate Au(I) complexes such as triethylphosphinegold(I) chloride and the tetraacetylthioglucose gold(I) phosphine complex, Auranofin; (ii) cationic tetrahedral bis-chelated Au(I) phosphine complexes related to [Au(dppe)2]+.(2) Recently it has been reported that Auranofin, at submicromolar concentrations, induces MMP observed as mitochondrial swelling and dissipation of membrane potential.(3, 4) Both events are completely inhibited by cyclosporin-A, the specific inhibitor of MMP. The permeability changes were shown to occur at concentrations associated with the selective inhibition of mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase.(3) Auranofin is a potent and specific inhibitor of this enzyme due to Au(I) binding to the active-site selenol group.(5) The redox state of mitochondrial thiols may be critical in the control of MMP.(3) In general, swelling is stimulated by thiol blocking or oxidising agents and is prevented by thiol reducing agents.(1) Mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase may play an import role in the redox control of the permeability of mitochondrial membranes.(3) Our interest is in investigating the antitumour potential of Au(I) phosphine compounds using a number of different approaches. In recent work we have evaluated a series of hydrophilic analogs of [Au(dppe)2]+ containing pyridylphosphine ligands which have demonstrated greater tumour selectivity than the parent compound. To investigate the possible antimitochondrial mode of action we are studying the effect of [Au(dppe)2]+ and related compounds on isolated rat liver mitochondria. To assess whether the lipophiliccationic nature of the compounds determines the antitumour activity, we have synthesized a series of novel Au(I) complexes based on heterocyclic carbene rather than phosphine ligands. The similar chemistry and structural features of the two classes of complexes allow us to assess whether the phosphine ligands are essential for the antitumour properties.

Oct 1, 2003