BIOLEACHING

Bioleaching Process

Oxidation process by bacteria To separate the valuable metal from ore in which it is embedded Example of bacteria: -Leptospirillum ferrooxidans -Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

MICROORGANISMS

Thiobacillus Leptospirilum Thermophilic bacteria Heterotrophic microorganisms

THIOBACILLUS

Most active bioleaching bacteria. Chemolithoautotrophic species. Gram-negative and non-spore forming rod. Examples: Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans. Oxidize sulfur and sulphides to produce sulphate.

LEPTOSPIRILUM
Acidophilic, obligate chemolithotrophic species. Ferrous iron oxidizing. More sensitive to copper. Unable to oxidize sulphur or sulphur compound. Cannot attack mineral sulphides by itself and can be done together with T. Ferrooxidans or T. thiooxidans. Example: Leptospirillum ferrooxidans

THERMOPHILIC BACTERIA

1. Moderate thermophilic bacteria

Thiobacillus-like bacteria. Grow on pyrite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite. At temperature in the range of 50C. Ferrous iron as energy source.

THERMOPHILIC BACTERIA
2. Extremely thermophilic bacteria
Acidianus brierleyi Grow at temperatures above 60C. Growing on ferrous iron, elemental sulfur and metal sulfides. Chemolithoautotrophic bacteria, falcutative anaerobic.

HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIA

Contribute to metal leaching Due to enzymatic reduction of highly oxidized metal compounds or the production of organic acids. Genus Bacillus is most effective in metal solubilization. Bioleaching fungi: genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. Citric and oxalic acids are produced by fungi.

BIOLEACHING TECHNIQUES

Laboratory Investigation Industrial Leaching Process

Laboratory Investigation

-percolator leaching
-submerged leaching

Industrial Leaching Process -heap leaching

-dump leaching
-underground leaching.

-column leaching

Techniques

FACTORS INFLUENCING BIOLEACHING

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Nutrients Oxygen and carbon dioxide gases pH Temperature Mineral substrate Heavy metals Surfactants and organic extractants.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

Copper Uranium Gold

COPPER

Chile
Worlds major copper producing country Developer of bioleaching in industrial scale Production
75000 tons copper annually 10% - bioleaching 30% - heap & dump leaching

Bioleaching
Bioleaching is applied to extract copper from its low-grade ores (copper II oxide & copper II sulfide)
Advantages
Efficient Consume less energy

Disadvantages
Slow process Time-consuming

URANIUM
Industrial-scale bioleaching
by spraying stope walls with acid mine drainage in-situ irrigation of fractured underground ore deposits

Stanrock Mine, Canada

Produce 50 000 kg uranium annually

Factors that increase the interest in uranium bioleaching

Simple Effective Low energy consumption Environmentally friendly

GOLD
Bioleaching is applied for the treatment of refractory gold ores.
The refractory gold ores contain finely disseminated gold particles associated with sulfide minerals including arsenopyrite and pyrite. The decomposition of the mineral sulfide matrix is required After bioleaching, more than 95% of the gold is extracted

Future Aspects

Precious Metals Bioleaching Waste Products Examples Looking Forward

 Present Copper, Gold & Uranium are been used commercially for bioleaching. Future Mining of zinc, nickel, cobalt & molybdenum. Investigation of procedures to leach insoluble metals in residues e.g. lead Investigation of procedures to leach precious metals e.g. silver.

Precious metals bioleaching

Precious metals are disseminated in iron, arsenic, copper & zinc sulfides.

Remove metal sulfides through microbial leaching first.

Recover precious metals from residues.

Waste Products
Mineral industrial waste products are present mainly as oxides rather than as sulfides. Thus, cannot use Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Lectospirillum ferrooxidans. Experiments have shown the metal oxides in such residues can be leached by acid produced by Thibacillus thiooxidans. E.g. Vanadium, chromium, copper and zinc are completely recovered.

Examples
Sulphuric acid production during T. thiooxidans growth Gradual pH falls. Metals pass into solution at different rates depending on their solubilities

Thiobacillus thiooxidans can be used for:

Detoxifation of sewage sludge. Contamination of heavy metals in soil and sediment. May diminish environmental problems.

Examples
These bacteria and fungi will dissolve the metals by: 1) organic acids 2) complexing agents 3) chelating agents
Heterotrophic bacteria can be used for: Extraction of nickel

Looking Forward
Progress of bioleaching is expected in developing countries Tank bioleaching technology - gold, copper

Use of thermophilic bacteria and archea - increase the leaching rates and metal recoveries