A review of sulfide minerals bioleaching

Kaveh Asgary¹ Mohammad Ranjbar²

1) Iran, Kerman, University of Bahonar, Msc. student of mining engineering, mineral processing
2) Iran, Kerman, University of Bahonar, Professor of mining engineering department

Publication : 11th International Conference on New Solutions in Engineering, Information Science and Technology of the Century ahead(icietconf.com)
Abstract :
Compared to conventional leaching techniques, bioleaching is an eco-friendly technology for metal/solids separations. Among the benefits of bioleaching technology including of low energy consumption, low capital investment and low impact on the environment. Recently, bioleaching has received great attention especially in the mineral industries and solid industrial waste materials and also where the metals values are low, or in cases smelting would cause extensive damages to environment. It allows the recovery of metal from low-grade sulfide ores and concentrates that cannot be processed economically by conventional techniques. Bioleaching cause to producing a solution of metals, which this metals could be extracted selectively with conventional leaching techniques in next stages. Bacterial assisted leaching processes are based on the ability of certain microorganisms to solubilize/or expose the metals contained in the ores and concentrates by direct oxidation. Several factors can affect bioleaching of sulfide minerals, recognition of this factors can improve leaching condition. The majority of microorganisms involved in bacterial assisted leaching processes are chemolithotrophs. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) are essential nutrients that are used by microorganisms for their growth, maintenance, metabolite production, and survival. This literature review aims to provide a better understanding of various factors affecting microbial leaching of sulfide minerals and provide a brief look at various mechanisms involved in this process.
Keywords : bioleaching biooxidation mineral sulfides microorganisms