Biomining

1. Auflage 2006
ISBN: 978-3-540-34911-2
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 314 Seiten

Biomining is the biotechnology that uses microorganisms to recover metals, in particular copper and gold, from ores and concentrates. Having developed from a very simple operational (in terms of both engineering and biology) process, biomining has developed into a multifaceted technology, to the extent that many of the largest industrial stirred tanks and heaps throughout the world are employed for bioprocessing minerals.

This book has a strong applied approach and describes emerging and established industrial processes, as well as the underlying theory of the process, and the biology of the microorganisms involved. Chapters have been written by personnel from leading biomining companies, consultants and internationally recognized researchers and academics.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Preface;5
2;Contents;7
3;List of Contributors;16
4;1 The BIOX™ Process for the Treatment of Refractory Gold Concentrates;19
4.1;1.1 Introduction;19
4.2;1.2 The BIOX™ Process Flow Sheet;20
4.3;1.3 Current Status of Operating BIOX™ Plants;23
4.4;1.4 The BIOX™ Bacterial Culture;26
4.5;1.5 Engineering Design and Process Requirements;27
4.6;1.6 BIOX™ Capital and Operating Cost Breakdown;36
4.7;1.7 New Developments in the BIOX™ Technology;39
4.8;1.8 BIOX™ Liquor Neutralization and Arsenic Disposal;45
4.9;1.9 Conclusion;50
4.10;References;50
5;2 Bioleaching of a Cobalt-Containing Pyrite in Stirred Reactors: a Case Study from Laboratory Scale to Industrial Application;52
5.1;2.1 Introduction;52
5.2;2.2 Feasibility and Pilot-Scale Studies;54
5.3;2.3 Full-Scale Operation: the Kasese Plant;63
5.4;2.4 Conclusion;70
5.5;References;71
6;3 Commercial Applications of Thermophile Bioleaching;73
6.1;3.1 Introduction;73
6.2;3.2 Commercial Context of Copper Processing Technologies;73
6.3;3.3 Key Factors Influencing Commercial Decisions for Copper Projects;77
6.4;3.4 Techno-commercial Niche for Thermophilic Bioleaching;82
6.5;3.5 Thermophilic Heap Bioleaching of Marginal Ores;89
6.6;3.6 Summary;94
6.7;References;94
7;4 A Review of the Development and Current Status of Copper Bioleaching Operations in Chile: 25 Years of Successful Commercial Implementation;97
7.1;4.1 Historical Background and Development of Copper Hydrometallurgy in Chile;97
7.2;4.2 Technical Developments in Chile in the Direct Leaching of Ores;99
7.3;4.3 Current Status of Chilean Commercial Bioleaching Operations and Projects;102
7.4;4.4 Current Advances Applied Research and Development in Bioleaching in Chile;109
7.5;4.5 Concluding Remarks;110
7.6;References;111
8;5 The GeoBiotics GEOCOAT® Technology – Progress and Challenges;112
8.1;5.1 Introduction;112
8.2;5.2 The GEOCOAT® and GEOLEACH™ Technologies;112
8.3;5.3 The Agnes Mine GEOCOAT® Project;118
8.4;5.4 Developing Technologies;126
8.5;References;127
9;6 Whole-Ore Heap Biooxidation of Sulfidic Gold- Bearing Ores;128
9.1;6.1 Introduction;128
9.2;6.2 History of BIOPRO™ Development;128
9.3;6.3 Commercial BIOPRO™ Process;130
9.4;6.4 Commercial BIOPRO™ Operating Performance;135
9.5;6.5 Lessons Learned;143
9.6;6.6 Final Thoughts;151
9.7;References;152
10;7 Heap Leaching of Black Schist;154
10.1;7.1 Introduction;154
10.2;7.2 Significance and Potential of Talvivaara Deposit;154
10.3;7.3 Biooxidation Potential and Factors Affecting Bioleaching;155
10.4;7.4 Leaching of Finely Ground Ore with Different Suspension Regimes;156
10.5;7.5 Heap Leaching Simulations;157
10.6;7.6 Dynamics of Biocatalyst Populations;163
10.7;References;165
11;8 Modeling and Optimization of Heap Bioleach Processes;167
11.1;8.1 Introduction;167
11.2;8.2 Physical, Chemical and Biological Processes Underlying Heap Bioleaching;168
11.3;8.3 Mathematical Modeling;173
11.4;8.4 Application of Mathematical Modeling – from Laboratory to Heap;179
11.5;8.5 Case Study I – Chalcocite;182
11.6;8.6 Case Study II – Sphalerite and Pyrite;185
11.7;8.7 The Route Forward – Chalcopyrite;188
11.8;8.8 Conclusions;188
11.9;References;189
12;9 Relevance of Cell Physiology and Genetic Adaptability of Biomining Microorganisms to Industrial Processes;191
12.1;9.1 Introduction;191
12.2;9.2 Biooxidation of Minerals Is a Marriage Between Chemistry and Biology;191
12.3;9.3 General Chemistry of Mineral Biooxidation;192
12.4;9.4 Advantages of Mineral Biooxidation Processes Compared with Many Other Microbe- Dependent Processes;193
12.5;9.5 Should New Processes Be Inoculated with Established Microbial Consortia?;195
12.6;9.6 Types of Organisms;196
12.7;9.7 General Physiology of Mineral-Degrading Bacteria;198
12.8;9.8 Autotrophy;199
12.9;9.9 Nitrogen, Phosphate and Trace Elements;200
12.10;9.10 Energy Production;201
12.11;9.11 Adaptability of Biomining Microorganisms;205
12.12;9.12 Metal Tolerance and Resistance;206
12.13;9.13 Conclusions;209
12.14;References;209
13;10 Acidophile Diversity in Mineral Sulfide Oxidation;213
13.1;10.1 Introduction;213
13.2;10.2 Acidophiles in Mineral Sulfide Oxidation;213
13.3;10.3 Dual Energy Sources: Mineral Dissolution by Iron- Oxidizing and by Sulfur- Oxidizing Bacteria;217
13.4;10.4 Acidophiles in Mineral Processing;219
13.5;10.5 Diversity in Iron Oxidation;222
13.6;10.6 Summary;225
13.7;References;226
14;11 The Microbiology of Moderately Thermophilic and Transiently Thermophilic Ore Heaps;231
14.1;11.1 Introduction;231
14.2;11.2 Heat Generation Within Bioleaching Heaps;232
14.3;11.3 Effect of Temperature on Bioleaching Microorganisms;235
14.4;11.4 Microbial Populations of Moderately Thermophilic or Transiently Thermophilic Commercial Bioleaching Heaps;240
14.5;11.5 Summary;246
14.6;References;247
15;12 Techniques for Detecting and Identifying Acidophilic Mineral- Oxidizing Microorganisms;250
15.1;12.1 Biodiversity of Acidophilic Microorganisms That Have Direct and Secondary Roles in Mineral Dissolution;250
15.2;12.2 General Techniques for Detecting and Quantifying Microbial Life in Mineral- Oxidizing Environments;251
15.3;12.3 Cultivation-Dependent Approaches;254
15.4;12.4 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Based Microbial Identification and Community Analysis;258
15.5;12.5 PCR-Independent Molecular Detection and Identification of Acidophiles;266
15.6;12.6 Future Perspectives on Molecular Techniques for Detection and Identification of Acidophiles;268
15.7;References;270
16;13 Bacterial Strategies for Obtaining Chemical Energy by Degrading Sulfide Minerals;275
16.1;13.1 Introduction;275
16.2;13.2 Pyrite As a Model System for Understanding Bacterial Sulfide Leaching Activities;276
16.3;13.3 Electronic Structure and Thermodynamic Properties of Pyrite;276
16.4;13.4 The Energy Strategy of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans;281
16.5;13.5 The Energy Strategy of Acidothiobacillus ferrooxidans;284
16.6;13.6 Surface Chemistry, Colloids and Bacterial Activity;286
16.7;13.7 Mechanism of Colloidal Particle Uptake into the Capsule and Exopolymeric Substances;286
16.8;13.8 Energy Turnover at the Nanoscale, a Strategic Skill Evolved by Bacteria;289
16.9;13.9 Summary;290
16.10;References;290
17;14 Genetic and Bioinformatic Insights into Iron and Sulfur Oxidation Mechanisms of Bioleaching Organisms;293
17.1;14.1 Introduction;293
17.2;14.2 Relevant Biochemical and Chemical Reactions;294
17.3;14.3 Genetics of Bioleaching Microorganisms;294
17.4;14.4 Iron and Sulfur Oxidation and Reduction in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans;299
17.5;14.5 Iron Oxidation in Other Bioleaching Microorganisms;308
17.6;14.6 Outstanding Questions and Future Directions;313
17.7;References;314
18;Index;320