What is Biometallurgy 15

It usually refers to the bacterial oxidation or biological oxidation of the ore, which is carried out by microorganisms existing in nature, which are called temperature-appropriate bacteria, which are about 0 5 2 0 microns long and 0 5 microns wide, which can only be seen under the microscope, survive by inorganic matter, and are harmless to life. These bacteria feed on pyrite, arsenic, pyrite and other metal sulphides such as chalcopyrite and copper-uranium mica, and thermosophiles and other bacteria often live in acidic environments resulting from sulfur fixation and oxidation, such as hot springs, volcanic areas and sulfur-rich areas. Temperature-appropriate bacteria, cultured by an Australian company, were first discovered in a mine in Western Australia and have a good accumulation effect on soluble metals at high temperatures in an acidic environment containing sulfur.

The mechanism of how temperature-sensitive bacteria and other bacteria that "live by eating ore" oxidizes acidic metals is unknown, chemical and biological actions oxidize acidic metals into soluble sulfates, insoluble *** remains in the residue, and iron, arsenic, and other base metals such as copper, nickel, and zinc enter the solution. The solution can be separated from the residue and before neutralization of the solution, traditional processing methods, such as solvent extraction, are used to ** base metals such as copper. The *** that may be present in the residue is extracted by cyanide after oxidation by bacteria

"Biometallurgical technology" is a method of extracting metals using the special skills of microorganisms. Many microorganisms have the ability to absorb and enrich heavy metal elements, and after screening and improvement, these microorganisms can be used for "mining", some can save energy, and some can produce energy. The "bacterial leaching" method is currently being promoted in the world, and about 30 countries have carried out this research.

So far, people have found more than 20 kinds of microorganisms of ** metals, and 21 kinds of metals such as gold, silver, manganese, zinc, and titanium can be extracted by microorganisms, among them, remarkable results have been achieved in the leaching of low-grade copper sulfide ore and uranium ore.

Biometallurgical technology, also known as bioleaching technology, usually refers to the bacterial oxidation or biological oxidation of ore, which is carried out by microorganisms present in nature. These microorganisms, called thermometrical bacteria, are about micron long and micron wide, can only be seen under a microscope, survive on inorganic matter, and are harmless to life. These bacteria feed on pyrite, arsenic, pyrite, and other metal sulfides such as chalcopyrite and copper-uraniummica.

Thermosophilia and other bacteria often live in acidic environments created by the oxidation of sulfur, such as hot springs, areas near volcanoes, and areas rich in sulfur.

Biometallurgy has the characteristics of low cost, low pollution and reusability, which is one of the ideal directions for the development of the metallurgical industry in the future.

Conventional metallurgical technology in the process of low-grade mineral processing, the cost is relatively high, the pollution is very large, the use of biometallurgical technology, generally speaking, is to use bacteria-containing bacterial liquid for soaking, most of these microorganisms are some chemoautotrophic bacteria, they feed on ores, obtain energy through oxidation, these ores due to oxidation, from insoluble in water to soluble, people can extract minerals from the solution.

In the future, biohydrometallurgy will be further developed due to its advantages such as environmental protection, low infrastructure investment, and low operating costs in some cases. The following areas where industrial applications may be obtained:

1) bacterial tank leaching of base metal flotation sulfide concentrate;

2) bacterial heap leaching oxidation pretreatment for refractory gold mines;

3) bioleaching of oxide ores;

4) Extraction of metals from aqueous solutions with microorganisms.

The 21st century is the century of biotechnology, and the development and progress of biotechnology will affect all fields of human activities, and will naturally have further penetration and influence on metallurgy. Biometallurgical technology provides a powerful means for mankind to solve many major problems such as mineral resources and environmental protection in the world today, and shows great potential that is difficult to estimate.