EP0129564A1 - Enrichissement bacterien de minerais - Google Patents

Enrichissement bacterien de minerais

Info

Publication number
EP0129564A1
EP0129564A1 EP84900004A EP84900004A EP0129564A1 EP 0129564 A1 EP0129564 A1 EP 0129564A1 EP 84900004 A EP84900004 A EP 84900004A EP 84900004 A EP84900004 A EP 84900004A EP 0129564 A1 EP0129564 A1 EP 0129564A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ore
process according
strain
extract
iron
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP84900004A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0129564A4 (fr
Inventor
Bruce Charles Kelley
Peter James Holden
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Biotech Australia Pty Ltd
Inhibin Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Biotech Australia Pty Ltd
Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Biotech Australia Pty Ltd, Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd filed Critical Biotech Australia Pty Ltd
Publication of EP0129564A1 publication Critical patent/EP0129564A1/fr
Publication of EP0129564A4 publication Critical patent/EP0129564A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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 to a novel process and in particular to biological leaching and to the beneficiation of mineral ores.
  • autotrophic bacteria appear to be most important in the field of extractive metallurgy.
  • the chemosynthetic autotrophic iron bacteria that are implicated in biological leaching are widely distributed in nature where iron salts, sulfur and hydrogen sulfide are present, particularly in an acid environment.
  • the most important member of this group is Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (Colmer, A.R. and Hinkle, M.E. (1974), Science 106. 253).
  • T. ferrooxidans derives energy for growth from the oxidation of ferrous iron, sulfur and sulfides (Tuovinen, O.H. and Kelly, D.P. (1974), Z. Allg. Mikrobiol. 12, 311-346)
  • This rod-shaped bacterium is aerobic and requires an acid environment between pH 2 and 3.5. Carbon for growth is obtained from atmospheric CO 2 and nitrogen from dissolved ammonia or nitrates.
  • Valuable metals are often present in ores as insoluble metal sulfides.
  • the leaching process is the end result of the bacteria acting upon the metal sulfide, which serves as an energy source in the presence of other nutrients.
  • the mineralogy of the ore minerals and associated gangue are extremely important in establishing the feasibility of leaching.
  • Bacterial leaching is associated with the presence of pyrite (FeS 2 ), pyrrhotite or other gangue reduced iron and/or sulfur compounds, representing ubiquitous growth substrates which often occur in association with other more valuable minerals, e.g., copper, uranium, tin.
  • pyrite FeS 2
  • pyrrhotite or other gangue reduced iron and/or sulfur compounds representing ubiquitous growth substrates which often occur in association with other more valuable minerals, e.g., copper, uranium, tin.
  • One mechanism of bacterial leaching is of an indirect nature and is reliant on the presence of pyrite.
  • ferrous sulfate produced by the chemical oxidation of pyrite - is oxidised to ferric sulfate by T. ferrooxidans (see equation 1).
  • the ferric sulfate then reacts with metallic sulfide minerals as follows -
  • the bacteria also oxidise elemental sulfur to sulfuric acid
  • iron-oxidizing bacteria also ensures that ferrous iron is oxidised back to ferric iron.
  • the products of these reactions ultimately dependent on the presence of pyrite or other iron sulfides, are ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid, a mixture capable of oxidising and dissolving many otherwise insoluble minerals.
  • This invention relates to ore types where the valuable metal in question is associated with pyrite, pyrrhotite or other gangue reduced iron and/or sulfur compounds but is present in a highly oxidised state or other recalcitrant state and as such is recalcitrant to the normal mechanisms of bacterially assisted metal solubilization as described above.
  • Suitable ores which can be treated according to the invention are cassiterite; pyrite, pyrrhotite or other gangue reduced iron and/or sulfur compound associated laterite deposits, e.g. nickel laterites; and heavy mineral sands, e.g., ilmenite.
  • the invention is also applicable to the removal of pyrite, pyrrhotite or other gangue reduced iron and/or sulfur compounds associated with gold etc., or other inert, valuable metals thus, bacterial dissolution of unwanted pyrite, pyrrhotite or other gangue reduced iron and/or sulfur compounds allows beneficiation of the valuable metal required. Such beneficiation may effectively serve to concentrate the desired metal and may also facilitate conventional extractive procedures through reduced ore grinding and more efficient flotation and physical separation techniques.
  • the invention therefore provides a process for increasing the concentration of wanted metal values in an ore, ore extract or other like material which contains pyrite pyrrhotite or other gangue reduced iron and/or sulfur compounds.
  • the process of the invention comprises cultivating a strain of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans capable of oxidising iron and sulfur under acidic conditions in a medium containing the ore, ore extract or other like material and water under aerobic conditions, in the presence of a source of nitrogen thereby removing iron and sulfur.
  • the medium be supplemented by ammonium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphate and nitrate ions. Alternatively, these may be present in the water or the material being treated. If that material or water contains a source of nitrogen, then further nitrogen need not necessarily be added. Some forms of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans appear to fix atmospheric nitrogen. With such forms air may provide the nitrogen source.
  • the material to be treated may be pre-ground if necessary, depending on the type of material.
  • the process of the invention can be applied to several stages of the beneficiation process.
  • the ore can be treated by the process of the invention in situ before mining. This would reduce both mining and conventional beneficiation costs by reducing the amount of material to be mined and beneficiated.
  • the ore can be mined and stockpiled and treated according to the invention before the usual beneficiation. In certain cases this will facilitate subsequent grinding of the ore, especially cassiterite, thereby minimising losses through fines.
  • the sulfide flotation concentrates can be treated with a strain of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans capable of oxidising iron and sulfur to facilitate their further treatment. Concentrates from other intermediate stages of beneficiation processes may also be treated according to the invention.
  • tailings from beneficiation processes can also be treated according to the invention in order to obtain a feedstock with metal values in sufficient concentration to make further beneficiation economic.
  • Thiobacillus ferrooxidous may function at moderate or extreme temperatures and processes of the invention employing such organisms may be carried out at temperatures up to the maximum temperature at which the particular organism is viable. Generally, however, the processes will be performed at temperatures of 5°C to 42°C, preferably from 28°C to 32°C.
  • the invention is especially applicable to the treatment of tin ores such as cassiterite, the beneficiation of which can be effected by dissolution of pyrite, pyrrhotite or other gangue reduced iron and/or sulfur compounds by a strain of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans capable of oxidising iron and sulfur.
  • Tin is not solubilised by the micro-organism.
  • the biological dissolution of pyrite, pyrrhotite or other gangue reduced iron and/or sulfur compounds may favourably affect subsequent metallurgical extractive procedures by making the ore more amenable to grinding. Leaching of cassiterite in situ would simplify mining operations and provide feed to the mill with a lesser comminution energy requirement.
  • Suitable organisms have been isolated from surface waters and ore samples located within cassiterite containing dolomite host rock at a tin minesite.
  • the cultures which have been temporarily designated BA-MBW3, BA-MBW9, BA-MBS2 and BA-MBS3 consist of gram-negative rods of varying sizes (0.5 - 2 micron) with rounded ends, which occur singly and frequently in pairs.
  • the morphology of these cultures are consistent with the presence of both "typical" Thiobacillus ferrooxidans as described extensively in the literature and a typical "Thiobacillus ferrooxidans like" rods of greater length.
  • the organisms designated BA-MBW3, BA-MBW9, BA-MBS2 and BA-MBS3 are mixtures of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans strains.
  • BA-MBW9 is capable of chemoautotrophic growth in the absence of an organic carbon substrate.
  • artificial minewater medium designated 9K salts medium (Silverman, M.L. and Lundgren, D.G. (1959), J. Bacteriol. 78., 326) under aerobic conditions, BA-MBW9 rapidly oxidizes ferrous suifate, oxidation being complete in approximately 72 hours.
  • 9K salts medium Silverman, M.L. and Lundgren, D.G. (1959), J. Bacteriol. 78., 326
  • BA-MBW9 was isolated from a site characterized by a pH of 2.45 and at 16°C. The culture grows rapidly within the range 20° to 32°C, however the limits of growth have not been determined. It is acidophilic, growth being most rapid in the region pH 2-2.5. Growth has also been observed at pH 1.7. Maintenance of BA-MBW9 on synthetic medium does not result in loss of ability to oxidize naturally occurring sulfides.
  • EXAMPLE 1 This example illustrates the ability of a Thiobacillus ferrooxidans containing culture to remove pyrite from a cassiterite containing porphyry ore. The culture was isolated from the minesite.
  • a cassiterite containing quartz porphyry ore composite was used in this example.
  • the ore was crushed to -3.2mm and an iatad analysis conducted (Table 1).
  • the contents of the flask were inoculated (5% v/v/) with either sterile acid water or a T. ferrooxidans containing culture designated MBW-9.
  • the flasks were incubated on an orbital shaker at 120opm at 28°C. Samples (5ml) were taken asceptically at appropriate time intervals. The samples were centrifuged (3,000 rpm) to remove debris and the supernatants retained for analyses. The following analyses were conducted.
  • Soluble metals (tin, iron) were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Soluble ferric iron was monitored by reaction with acid thiocyanate (20%, w/v) and spectrophotometric absorption at 480nm. The pH was followed using a standard laboratory pH meter. Microscopic examination of culture flasks was conducted using a standard research microscope. Ore residues remaining after leaching were analysed by standard chemical tests. X-ray diffraction and microscopic examination.
  • This example demonstrates the ability of the same Thiobacillus ferrooxidans containing culture cited in Example 1 to remove pyrite from a different cassiterite containing quartz porphyry ore. Details of this ore were not supplied.
  • Sterilised ore (10g) was dispensed into Erlenmeyer flasks (500ml) containing either mineral salts medium or acidified distilled water. Details of medium addition and composition are outlined in Example 1. The flasks were inoculated (1% v/v) with a T. ferrooxidans containing culture designated MBW9. The conditions of flask incubation, content sampling and analysis are given above (Example 1). The results are shown in Table 5.
  • This example shows the ability of a Thiobacillus ferrooxidans containing culture not isolated from the minesite to remove iron from a cassiterite containing quartz porphyry ore similar to the ore sample used in Example 2.
  • Example 2 Sterilized ore (4g) was dispensed into Erlenmeyer flasks (500ml) containing mineral salts medium. Details of the medium addition and composition are outlined in Example 1. The flasks were inoculated (5% v/v) with either sterile acid water or a culture containing Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The conditions of flask incubation, content sampling and analysis are given above (Example 1). The results are shown in Table 6.
  • Table 6 Iron solubilization from porphyry ore by a culture containing Thiobacillus ferrooxidans not isolated from the minesite.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Iron Core Of Rotating Electric Machines (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)

Abstract

Procédé d'enrichissement de minerais comprenant la dissolution de composés de fer et/ou de soufre réduit de la pyrite, la pyrrhotine, ou autre gangue par une souche de Thiobacillus ferrooxidans capable d'oxyder le fer et le soufre. Le métal de valeur n'est pas solubilisé par le micro-organisme. Le procédé s'applique en particulier au traitement de minerai d'étain, avant, pendant ou après l'enrichissement et également à des queues provenant d'un enrichissement d'étain pouvant contenir jusqu'à 14 % de l'étain présent à l'origine dans le minerai.
EP19840900004 1982-12-17 1983-12-16 Enrichissement bacterien de minerais. Withdrawn EP0129564A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPF731282 1982-12-17
AU7312/82 1982-12-17

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0129564A1 true EP0129564A1 (fr) 1985-01-02
EP0129564A4 EP0129564A4 (fr) 1985-07-01

Family

ID=3769897

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840900004 Withdrawn EP0129564A4 (fr) 1982-12-17 1983-12-16 Enrichissement bacterien de minerais.

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0129564A4 (fr)
JP (1) JPS60500239A (fr)
AU (1) AU565144B2 (fr)
OA (1) OA07796A (fr)
WO (1) WO1984002355A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA839394B (fr)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ZA853701B (en) * 1984-11-26 1986-05-28 Pm Mineral Leaching Tech Inc Bioleaching process
AU607901B2 (en) * 1986-02-07 1991-03-21 Envirotech Corporation Method and apparatus for biological processing of metal- containing ores
US4987081A (en) * 1987-07-10 1991-01-22 Gb Biotech Inc. Chemical/biological process to oxidize multimetallic sulphide ores
AU616967B2 (en) * 1988-05-19 1991-11-14 Biomin Technologies SA Limited Treatment of mixed metal sulfide concentrates
AU618177B2 (en) * 1990-03-27 1991-12-12 Biomin Technologies Sa Biological oxidation of sulfide ore
AR245506A1 (es) * 1990-11-07 1994-01-31 Leaching S R L Y Shell Chile S Un proceso de bio-metalurgica en el cual se produce la bio-oxidacion de compuestos minerales
DE19512498A1 (de) * 1995-04-04 1996-10-10 Krupp Polysius Ag Verfahren zur Gewinnung von Metallen aus Erzmaterial
CN105821209B (zh) * 2016-04-25 2018-01-12 昆明理工大学 一种钛铁矿的微生物浸出方法
CN107617506B (zh) * 2017-08-30 2019-07-16 昆明理工大学 一种高品位脉锡矿选矿方法
CN111744677B (zh) * 2020-07-02 2022-06-17 沈阳五寰工程技术有限公司 一种橄辉岩型钛铁矿的酸预处理-浮选分离方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1504760A (fr) * 1966-10-26 1967-12-08 Procédé d'épuration des bauxites contenant des impuretés sulfurées
US3796308A (en) * 1972-07-24 1974-03-12 Canadian Patents Dev Bacterial oxidation in upgrading sulfidic ores and coals
GB2068927A (en) * 1980-02-12 1981-08-19 Engelhard Min & Chem Microbiological recovery of metals
US4293334A (en) * 1980-02-12 1981-10-06 Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation Recovery of metals

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE794526A (fr) * 1972-01-26 1973-07-25 Minerales Ministere Des Riches Procede pour l'extraction biohydrometallurgique du cobalt et du nickel
CA1023947A (fr) * 1974-06-27 1978-01-10 Centre De Recherches Minerales, Ministere Des Richesses Naturelles Du Qu Ebec Procede de lessivage selectif par catalyse, a l'aide de bacteries
GB1542600A (en) * 1976-10-18 1979-03-21 Gen Mining & Finance Corp Oxidation of ferrous salt solutions
DE2960763D1 (en) * 1978-03-23 1981-11-26 Interox Chemicals Ltd Bacterial leaching of minerals
US4269699A (en) * 1979-10-23 1981-05-26 Canadian Patents & Dev. Ltd. Bioadsorption alteration of iron sulfide surfaces

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1504760A (fr) * 1966-10-26 1967-12-08 Procédé d'épuration des bauxites contenant des impuretés sulfurées
US3796308A (en) * 1972-07-24 1974-03-12 Canadian Patents Dev Bacterial oxidation in upgrading sulfidic ores and coals
GB2068927A (en) * 1980-02-12 1981-08-19 Engelhard Min & Chem Microbiological recovery of metals
US4293334A (en) * 1980-02-12 1981-10-06 Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation Recovery of metals

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO8402355A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2334884A (en) 1984-07-05
WO1984002355A1 (fr) 1984-06-21
JPS60500239A (ja) 1985-02-28
EP0129564A4 (fr) 1985-07-01
AU565144B2 (en) 1987-09-03
ZA839394B (en) 1984-08-29
OA07796A (en) 1986-11-20

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Inventor name: KELLEY, BRUCE, CHARLES

Inventor name: HOLDEN, PETER, JAMES