WO2002081761A2 - Bioleaching of a sulphide concentrate in a saline solution - Google Patents
Bioleaching of a sulphide concentrate in a saline solution Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2002081761A2 WO2002081761A2 PCT/ZA2002/000062 ZA0200062W WO02081761A2 WO 2002081761 A2 WO2002081761 A2 WO 2002081761A2 ZA 0200062 W ZA0200062 W ZA 0200062W WO 02081761 A2 WO02081761 A2 WO 02081761A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- bioleaching
- saline solution
- ppm
- tank
- solution
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B3/00—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
- C22B3/18—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes with the aid of microorganisms or enzymes, e.g. bacteria or algae
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
- Y02P10/20—Recycling
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to the bioleaching of a sulphide concentrate or a sulphide mineral ore in a saline solution, to recover contained metals.
- Thermophile archaea such as Sulfolobus metallicus or other Sulfolobus-Wke archaea are particularly sensitive to chloride in solution. Microbial growth is reported to be prevented at concentrations of greater than 1000 ppm Cl " .
- the invention provides a method of treating a sulphide mineral which includes the step of bioleaching the mineral in a saline solution using at least one salt tolerant bacterium.
- the bacterium is selected from the microorganisms deposited at the German Culture Collection under the respective accession Nos. DSM 14175 and DSM 14174, and a salt tolerant strain of Thiobacillus prosperus.
- the bacterium may include at least one of Acidihalobacter ferrooxidans and Acidihalobacter aeolicus.
- the salt tolerant strain of Thiobacillus prosperus may be a naturally occurring strain extracted from a natural or man made environment with appropriate environmental characteristics eg. a thermal spring with a pH of less than 4 and with a chloride content greater than 5000 ppm and, preferably, in excess of 10000 ppm, or for example from sea water with a high ferrous iron content and with a reduced pH of less than 3 and 4, or it may be adapted for the purpose.
- a thermal spring with a pH of less than 4 and with a chloride content greater than 5000 ppm and, preferably, in excess of 10000 ppm, or for example from sea water with a high ferrous iron content and with a reduced pH of less than 3 and 4, or it may be adapted for the purpose.
- the chloride content in the solution may be in excess of 5 000 ppm, and at least 10 000 ppm and, without being limiting, as high as 30 000 ppm or 35000 ppm or more.
- the temperature at which bioleaching takes place may lie in excess thereof in the range of from 10°C to 45°C and may be determined at least according to circumstances.
- the temperature is in the range of from 10°C to 25°C.
- tank leaching for example in a stirred reactor, a higher temperature range applies and the temperature may be above 25°C and preferably lies in the range of from 35°C to 45°C.
- Nutrients may be added to the saline solution to maintain cell growth.
- a carbonaceous material e.g. carbon dioxide or carbonate minerals, which is added in a suitable manner to the saline solution.
- the carbonaceous material may be added to the tank or to a concentrate feed to the tank.
- the nutrients may include a yeast extract.
- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the method of the invention applied to the tank leaching of sulphide concentrates
- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the method of the invention as used in a heap leaching operation.
- FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates the method of the invention as used in a tank leaching operation.
- the drawing illustrates a bioreactor 10, an agitator or mixer 12, an air supply source 14, an air disperser 16 inside the tank of the reactor 10, and a control valve 18 which is used to control the supply of air from the source 14 to the disperser 16.
- a carbon dioxide supply source 20 is connected via a control valve 22 to a supply line extending from the valve 18 to the air disperser 16.
- Sulphide concentrate is supplied as a slurry from a storage tank 26 to the bioreactor 10.
- the slurry is diluted with a saline solution drawn from a supply source 28.
- the saline solution is added directly to the concentrate storage tank 26, as is indicated by means of a dotted line, or alternatively is mixed with the concentrate feed slurry in a supply line 30 to the bioreactor.
- Salt tolerant bacteria are inoculated into the bioreactor 10 directly or, as is shown in Figure 1 , by introducing the bacteria into the saline solution which is added to the concentrate.
- Use is made of the bacteria deposited at the German Culture Collection under the respective accession Nos DSM 14175 and DSM 14174 or a salt tolerant strain of Thiobacillus prosperus which is naturally occurring and extracted for example from sea water with a high ferrous iron content and with a reduced pH of between 3 and 4 or a strain of Thiobacillus prosperus which is adapted for the purpose.
- the bacterium deposited under accession No. DSM 14175 is Acidihalobacter ferrooxidans and the bacterium deposited under accession No. DSM 14174 is Acidihalobacter aeolicus.
- the source 28 also contains nutrients for cell growth.
- the nutrients may be carbonate minerals and a yeast extract.
- the salt content in the saline solution may lie in the range of from 10 000 ppm to 35000 ppm Cl " . This depends on the salt tolerance capability of the bacterium or bacteria which are used in the bioleaching operation. Depending on the salt tolerance of the bacteria the salt content may be in excess of 35000 ppm Cl " .
- Bioreactor 10 Cell growth occurs in the bioreactor 10 as concentrate, saline solution and nutrients are supplied to the bioreactor.
- the bioleaching process can be enhanced by the judicious addition of air and carbon dioxide from the sources 14 and 20.
- Figure 2 illustrates the method of the invention as applied to the treatment of a mineral sulphide ore in a heap leaching operation.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a heap 40 of sulphide mineral ore positioned over a plurality of air dispersion pipes 42 which are supplied with air from a source 44.
- Heap leaching is effected by irrigation with the saline return solution and nutrients, from storage tanks or ponds 46, using an overhead pipe dispersion arrangement 48.
- Pregnant leach solution is collected from the base of the heap and is directed to a pond 50.
- the solution in the pond is treated (52) to recover dissolved metals and spent solution 54, devoid of leached metals, is returned to the saline return storage tanks or ponds 46.
- the bacterium of an adapted strain of Thiobacillus prosperus which is salt tolerant, as described hereinbefore, is inoculated in the ore which is placed on the heap or into the saline solution which is returned to the heap e.g. into the storage tanks or ponds 46.
- the solution which is contained in the tanks or ponds 46 may have a salt content of from 10 000 ppm to 35 000 ppm or more. Nutrients are added to the solution as required for optimising cell growth.
- a principal benefit of the invention is that the salt tolerant bacterium or bacteria, described hereinbefore, enable bioleaching to take place in a saline solution containing from 10 000 ppm Cl " up to at least 35 000 ppm Cl " .
- This substantially reduces or even eliminates the need for using fresh water. Consequently bioleaching, either by treatment of mineral sulphide concentrates in stirred reactors, or mineral sulphide ores in heaps, may be undertaken in arid regions where fresh water supplies are limited and only saline water is available for bioleaching.
- a further benefit of the invention is that the presence of chloride in the leaching phase may improve metal recovery by enhancing the rate and extent of mineral leaching.
- the presence of chloride has been shown to enhance the rate and extent of chalcopyrite leaching.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Biotechnology (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Purification Treatments By Anaerobic Or Anaerobic And Aerobic Bacteria Or Animals (AREA)
- Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
- Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2002254782A AU2002254782B2 (en) | 2001-04-10 | 2002-04-09 | Bioleaching of a sulphide concentrate in a saline solution |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA2001/2943 | 2001-04-10 | ||
| ZA200102943 | 2001-04-10 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2002081761A2 true WO2002081761A2 (en) | 2002-10-17 |
| WO2002081761A3 WO2002081761A3 (en) | 2004-02-12 |
Family
ID=25589132
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/ZA2002/000062 Ceased WO2002081761A2 (en) | 2001-04-10 | 2002-04-09 | Bioleaching of a sulphide concentrate in a saline solution |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AR (2) | AR033138A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2002254782B2 (en) |
| PE (1) | PE20021119A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2002081761A2 (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008036985A3 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2008-06-26 | Bhp Billiton Sa Ltd | Bioleaching process control in a stirred tank |
| WO2010009481A3 (en) * | 2008-06-29 | 2010-07-22 | Bhp Billiton Sa Limited | A method of treating a sulphide mineral |
| US8497113B2 (en) | 2006-02-06 | 2013-07-30 | Jx Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation | Chloride ion-resistant sulfur-oxidizing bacteria |
| CN104404252A (en) * | 2014-12-19 | 2015-03-11 | 中南大学 | Method for bacterial leaching of sulfide ores by seawater |
| EP3184657A4 (en) * | 2014-08-22 | 2018-03-14 | Compañía Minera Zaldivar Limitada | Copper sulphide leaching inferrous chloride medium with bacteria |
| WO2024178306A1 (en) | 2023-02-24 | 2024-08-29 | Cemvita Factory, Inc. | Process |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DD278574A1 (en) * | 1988-12-27 | 1990-05-09 | Akad Wissenschaften Ddr | PROCESS FOR MICROBIAL REMOVAL OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS |
| IL96611A (en) * | 1990-10-12 | 1995-06-29 | Israel Electric Corp Ltd | Extraction of metal oxides from coal fly ash by microorganisms and a new microorganism useful therefor |
| NZ244949A (en) * | 1991-10-31 | 1996-02-27 | Gist Brocades Nv | Halophilic and alkaliphilic microorganisms and salt and alkali tolerant enzymes isolated from cultures of them |
| IL100950A (en) * | 1992-02-14 | 1997-01-10 | Israel Electric Corp Ltd | Bioleaching method for the extraction of metals from coal fly ash using thiobacillus |
| CA2063687A1 (en) * | 1992-03-20 | 1993-09-21 | Raphael Fass | Bioleaching method for the extraction of metals from coal fly ash using thiobacillus |
-
2002
- 2002-04-09 AR ARP020101305A patent/AR033138A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2002-04-09 AU AU2002254782A patent/AU2002254782B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2002-04-09 WO PCT/ZA2002/000062 patent/WO2002081761A2/en not_active Ceased
- 2002-04-10 PE PE2002000300A patent/PE20021119A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2008
- 2008-04-30 AR ARP080101850A patent/AR066378A2/en active IP Right Grant
Cited By (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008036985A3 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2008-06-26 | Bhp Billiton Sa Ltd | Bioleaching process control in a stirred tank |
| EA013851B1 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2010-08-30 | Би Эйч Пи Биллитон Са Лимитед | Bioleaching process control |
| AP2270A (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2011-08-09 | Bhp Billiton Sa Ltd | Bioleaching process control. |
| US8497113B2 (en) | 2006-02-06 | 2013-07-30 | Jx Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation | Chloride ion-resistant sulfur-oxidizing bacteria |
| US8597933B2 (en) | 2008-06-29 | 2013-12-03 | Bhp Billiton Sa Limited | Method of treating a sulphide mineral |
| CN102165079A (en) * | 2008-06-29 | 2011-08-24 | Bhp比尔顿有限公司 | A method of treating a sulphide mineral |
| WO2010009481A3 (en) * | 2008-06-29 | 2010-07-22 | Bhp Billiton Sa Limited | A method of treating a sulphide mineral |
| AU2009270677B2 (en) * | 2008-06-29 | 2014-04-03 | Consolidated Nominees (Pty) Ltd | A method of treating a sulphide mineral |
| AU2009270677C1 (en) * | 2008-06-29 | 2014-08-21 | Consolidated Nominees (Pty) Ltd | A method of treating a sulphide mineral |
| CN102165079B (en) * | 2008-06-29 | 2017-08-08 | 合并指定所有权人有限公司 | Methods of processing sulfide minerals |
| EP3184657A4 (en) * | 2014-08-22 | 2018-03-14 | Compañía Minera Zaldivar Limitada | Copper sulphide leaching inferrous chloride medium with bacteria |
| CN104404252A (en) * | 2014-12-19 | 2015-03-11 | 中南大学 | Method for bacterial leaching of sulfide ores by seawater |
| CN104404252B (en) * | 2014-12-19 | 2016-07-27 | 中南大学 | A kind of method utilizing sea water to carry out Bioleaching sulphide ore |
| WO2024178306A1 (en) | 2023-02-24 | 2024-08-29 | Cemvita Factory, Inc. | Process |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2002081761A3 (en) | 2004-02-12 |
| AR033138A1 (en) | 2003-12-03 |
| PE20021119A1 (en) | 2002-12-11 |
| AR066378A2 (en) | 2009-08-12 |
| AU2002254782B2 (en) | 2008-02-07 |
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