CA2065491C - Metal recovery - Google Patents
Metal recovery Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2065491C CA2065491C CA002065491A CA2065491A CA2065491C CA 2065491 C CA2065491 C CA 2065491C CA 002065491 A CA002065491 A CA 002065491A CA 2065491 A CA2065491 A CA 2065491A CA 2065491 C CA2065491 C CA 2065491C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- metal
- sulphide
- ferrooxidans
- solution
- thiobacillus
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 23
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 23
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 title description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulphide Chemical compound [S-2] UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sulfate Chemical compound [O-]S([O-])(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 229910021653 sulphate ion Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 230000001580 bacterial effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000003381 solubilizing effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract 3
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 claims description 13
- 241000605272 Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans Species 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 241000605222 Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Species 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000005569 Iron sulphate Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 241000589921 Leptospirillum ferrooxidans Species 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000009291 froth flotation Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- BAUYGSIQEAFULO-UHFFFAOYSA-L iron(2+) sulfate (anhydrous) Chemical compound [Fe+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O BAUYGSIQEAFULO-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052976 metal sulfide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005188 flotation Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000019086 sulfide ion homeostasis Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 150000003467 sulfuric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- WWNBZGLDODTKEM-UHFFFAOYSA-N sulfanylidenenickel Chemical compound [Ni]=S WWNBZGLDODTKEM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 235000011149 sulphuric acid Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 239000001117 sulphuric acid Substances 0.000 description 4
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910017052 cobalt Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000010941 cobalt Substances 0.000 description 3
- GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N cobalt atom Chemical compound [Co] GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 235000008733 Citrus aurantifolia Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000003723 Smelting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000011941 Tilia x europaea Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004571 lime Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002244 precipitate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 2
- CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fe2+ Chemical compound [Fe+2] CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003513 alkali Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002585 base Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- LGQLOGILCSXPEA-UHFFFAOYSA-L nickel sulfate Chemical compound [Ni+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O LGQLOGILCSXPEA-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000015097 nutrients Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000011946 reduction process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035899 viability Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- 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
Landscapes
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
- Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
Abstract
A method of extracting metal from sulphide ores, which includes the steps of solubilizing the metal into a sulphate solution, and generating sulphide by anaerobic bacterial action in the sulphate solution, thereby to cause the metal in the solution to be precipitated as an insoluble sulphide, thus upgrading the metal into a highly concentrated form.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the recovery of metal such as nickel, copper, cobalt or the like, from sulphide ores.
SUMMARY OF THE INV~NTIION
According to the invention there is provided a method of extracting metal from sulphide ores, which includes the steps of solubulizing the metal into a sulphate solution which is generated by means of an acid dissolution process, and generating sulphide by anaerobic bacterial action in the sulphate solution, thereby to cause the metal in the solution to be precipitated as an insoluble sulphide, thus upgrading the metal into a highly concentrated form.
The sulphide is generated in a reactor. The sulphate solution may be passed through a bed of inert material to which bacteria become attached and use may be made of the bacterium Desulfovivrio Desulfuricans to effect sulphide generation.
Nutrients may be used to enhance sulphide generation and inert gas such as nitrogen may be used for maintaining the anaerobic environment.
The method includes the step of generating the sulphate solution for example by means of an aad dissalution process.
Acid may be generated by treating the ore by bacterial action.
In one embodiment of the invention the ore is crushed and treated by heap leaching with iron sulphate solutions which, optionally, carry bacteria. The bacteria may be Thiobacitlus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, or Leptospiriilum ferrooxidans. Sulphuric acid is then generated and the sulphate solution is formed.
Alternatively the metal sulphates are solubilized directly by bacterial action using one or more of the aforementioned bacteria.
Sulphuric acid or an alkali such as lime may be added to the solution to maintain the pH within the range of 1,2 to 3,0, and preferably within the range of 2,0 to 2,5.
The metal sulphate solution may alternatively be generated by treating a froth flotation concentrate. In this case a finely milled ore may be treated by froth flotation to form a metal sulphide flotation concentrate. The concentrate may then be treated to form the sulphate solution. This may, for example, take place in a series of tanks with a solution containing one ~0~~4~1 Page ~
or more of the aforementioned bacteria.
The metal sulphide which is precipitated may be separated from the solution by any physical separation method, for example filtration or the like. The precipitation step may take place in the vessel in which the sulphide is generated, or in a separate vessel. Thereafter the precipitate can be processed in any suitable way, e.g. smelting, roasting or the like, to recover the metal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying flow sheet which illustratEa two methods of extracting metal from sulphide ores according to they invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMSODINBENTS
The process of the invention is applicable to the extraction of metal, in particular nickel, copper and cobalt, contained in sulphide ores. The following description is however made with reference to a nickel recovery process only. It is to be understood though that the following principles can be applied equally to the recovery of copper and cobalt.
Referring to the flow sheet the mined ore is crushed at a stage 10 and the crushed ore is piled on a prepared base and treated in a leaching process 12. In the leaching process 12, iron sulphate solutions carrying Thiobacilius ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, or l_eptospirillum ferrooxidans, or a mixture of any two or all three of the bacteria, are percolated through the heap. in this way nickel sulphate, iron sulphate and sulphuric acid are generated.
According to the alkalinity of the ore further sulphuric acid or lime may be added to maintain the pH within the preferred range of 1,6 to 2,5 in which the viability of the bacteria is ensured.
The solution then passes to a biological sulphide reduction process 14 where, under anaerobic conditions and in a suitable reactor or in a series of reactors, soluble sulphates are converted to sulphide. In the presence of the soluble sulphide the nickel Is precipitated as an insoluble nickel sulphide. Precipitation may be effected in the same reactor or reactors, or in a separate vessel or vessels. Iron in the solution is reduced to the ferrous state and does not precipitate with the nickel sulphide. This step is more fully described in the specification of South African patent No. 89/7731 issued July 25, 1990.
In a stage 16 the precipitated nickel sulphide is physically separated by means of filtration or any other appropriate method. This may be accomplished in the vessel in which the sulphide is generated, or in a separate vessel.
In a subsequent step 18 the nickel sulphide is further processed in any appropriate way, such as smelting, roasting or the like, to recover the nickel.
Where the grade of the deposit is sufficiently high to justify additional mechanical processing costs the ore is finely milled in a step 20 and subjected to a froth flotation process 22 whereby a nickel sulphide flotation concentrate is produced. As is indicated by the numeral 24 this concentrate is subjected to biological oxidation in one or more tanks using one or more of the bacteria Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans, thereby to dissolve the nickel to form the sulphate solution. The oxidation step may take place at a pH
of from 1,2 to 3,0, and preferably the pH lies in the range of 2,0 to 2,5.
The sulphate solution can then be treated as described hereinbefore.
This invention relates to the recovery of metal such as nickel, copper, cobalt or the like, from sulphide ores.
SUMMARY OF THE INV~NTIION
According to the invention there is provided a method of extracting metal from sulphide ores, which includes the steps of solubulizing the metal into a sulphate solution which is generated by means of an acid dissolution process, and generating sulphide by anaerobic bacterial action in the sulphate solution, thereby to cause the metal in the solution to be precipitated as an insoluble sulphide, thus upgrading the metal into a highly concentrated form.
The sulphide is generated in a reactor. The sulphate solution may be passed through a bed of inert material to which bacteria become attached and use may be made of the bacterium Desulfovivrio Desulfuricans to effect sulphide generation.
Nutrients may be used to enhance sulphide generation and inert gas such as nitrogen may be used for maintaining the anaerobic environment.
The method includes the step of generating the sulphate solution for example by means of an aad dissalution process.
Acid may be generated by treating the ore by bacterial action.
In one embodiment of the invention the ore is crushed and treated by heap leaching with iron sulphate solutions which, optionally, carry bacteria. The bacteria may be Thiobacitlus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, or Leptospiriilum ferrooxidans. Sulphuric acid is then generated and the sulphate solution is formed.
Alternatively the metal sulphates are solubilized directly by bacterial action using one or more of the aforementioned bacteria.
Sulphuric acid or an alkali such as lime may be added to the solution to maintain the pH within the range of 1,2 to 3,0, and preferably within the range of 2,0 to 2,5.
The metal sulphate solution may alternatively be generated by treating a froth flotation concentrate. In this case a finely milled ore may be treated by froth flotation to form a metal sulphide flotation concentrate. The concentrate may then be treated to form the sulphate solution. This may, for example, take place in a series of tanks with a solution containing one ~0~~4~1 Page ~
or more of the aforementioned bacteria.
The metal sulphide which is precipitated may be separated from the solution by any physical separation method, for example filtration or the like. The precipitation step may take place in the vessel in which the sulphide is generated, or in a separate vessel. Thereafter the precipitate can be processed in any suitable way, e.g. smelting, roasting or the like, to recover the metal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying flow sheet which illustratEa two methods of extracting metal from sulphide ores according to they invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMSODINBENTS
The process of the invention is applicable to the extraction of metal, in particular nickel, copper and cobalt, contained in sulphide ores. The following description is however made with reference to a nickel recovery process only. It is to be understood though that the following principles can be applied equally to the recovery of copper and cobalt.
Referring to the flow sheet the mined ore is crushed at a stage 10 and the crushed ore is piled on a prepared base and treated in a leaching process 12. In the leaching process 12, iron sulphate solutions carrying Thiobacilius ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, or l_eptospirillum ferrooxidans, or a mixture of any two or all three of the bacteria, are percolated through the heap. in this way nickel sulphate, iron sulphate and sulphuric acid are generated.
According to the alkalinity of the ore further sulphuric acid or lime may be added to maintain the pH within the preferred range of 1,6 to 2,5 in which the viability of the bacteria is ensured.
The solution then passes to a biological sulphide reduction process 14 where, under anaerobic conditions and in a suitable reactor or in a series of reactors, soluble sulphates are converted to sulphide. In the presence of the soluble sulphide the nickel Is precipitated as an insoluble nickel sulphide. Precipitation may be effected in the same reactor or reactors, or in a separate vessel or vessels. Iron in the solution is reduced to the ferrous state and does not precipitate with the nickel sulphide. This step is more fully described in the specification of South African patent No. 89/7731 issued July 25, 1990.
In a stage 16 the precipitated nickel sulphide is physically separated by means of filtration or any other appropriate method. This may be accomplished in the vessel in which the sulphide is generated, or in a separate vessel.
In a subsequent step 18 the nickel sulphide is further processed in any appropriate way, such as smelting, roasting or the like, to recover the nickel.
Where the grade of the deposit is sufficiently high to justify additional mechanical processing costs the ore is finely milled in a step 20 and subjected to a froth flotation process 22 whereby a nickel sulphide flotation concentrate is produced. As is indicated by the numeral 24 this concentrate is subjected to biological oxidation in one or more tanks using one or more of the bacteria Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans, thereby to dissolve the nickel to form the sulphate solution. The oxidation step may take place at a pH
of from 1,2 to 3,0, and preferably the pH lies in the range of 2,0 to 2,5.
The sulphate solution can then be treated as described hereinbefore.
Claims (9)
1. A method of extracting metal from sulphide ores, which includes the steps of solubulizing the metal into a sulphate solution which is generated by means of an acid dissolution process, and generating sulphide by anaerobic bacterial action in the sulphate solution, thereby to cause the metal in the solution to be precipitated as an insoluble sulphide, thus upgrading the metal into a highly concentrated form.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sulphate solution is passed through a bed of inert material to which bacteria become attached and use is made of the bacterium Desulfovivrio Desulfuricans to effect sulphide generation.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ore is crushed and treated by heap leaching with iron sulphate solutions which carry at least one of the following bacteria: Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the metal sulphates are solubilized directly by at least one of the following bacteria: Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein finely milled ore is treated by froth flotation to form a metal sulphide flotation concentrate which is treated in one or more tanks using at least one of the following bacteria:
Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans.
Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans.
6. A method according to claim 1 in which the pH of the sulphate solution is maintained within the range of from 1,2 to 3,0 during the step of solubilizing the metal.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the pH is maintained within the range of from 2,0 to 2,5 during the step of solubilizing the metal.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the precipitated metal sulphide is separated from the solution and processed to recover the metal.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the acid is generated by bacterial leaching of the ore.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA912566 | 1991-04-08 | ||
| ZA91/2566 | 1991-04-08 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2065491A1 CA2065491A1 (en) | 1992-10-09 |
| CA2065491C true CA2065491C (en) | 2003-07-08 |
Family
ID=25580607
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002065491A Expired - Lifetime CA2065491C (en) | 1991-04-08 | 1992-04-07 | Metal recovery |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU654003B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2065491C (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA922493B (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN1074465C (en) * | 1997-03-27 | 2001-11-07 | 比利顿股份有限公司 | Copper recovery |
| US6387239B1 (en) | 1999-11-17 | 2002-05-14 | Bhp Minerals International, Inc. | Recovery of metals from ore |
| CN103572048B (en) * | 2013-11-19 | 2015-07-01 | 东北大学 | Method of cobalt leaching with activated carbon catalysis bacteria |
| CN111363927A (en) * | 2020-04-27 | 2020-07-03 | 北京理工大学 | A method for recycling electroplating sludge based on nickel recovery |
-
1992
- 1992-04-07 CA CA002065491A patent/CA2065491C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-04-07 ZA ZA922493A patent/ZA922493B/en unknown
- 1992-04-08 AU AU14778/92A patent/AU654003B2/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2065491A1 (en) | 1992-10-09 |
| ZA922493B (en) | 1993-08-17 |
| AU1477892A (en) | 1992-10-15 |
| AU654003B2 (en) | 1994-10-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |