'US 20070041 us) United States 2) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2007/0042482 A1 6 Ohata et SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA AND. ‘THEIR USE IN BIOLEACHING PROCESSES FOR SULFURED COPPER MINERAL Inventors: Atsuko Ohata, Hitachi-shi (JP), Manabu Manabe, Colina (CL); Pilar A. Parada Valdecantos, Colina (CL) Comesponilence Address: MERCHANT & GOULD PC P.O. BOX 2903 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 58402-0903 (US) (3) Assignee: BIOSIGMA S.A, Colina (CL) 21) Appl. No: 1/806.081 (2) Filed Aug. 17, 2006 0) Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 17, 2008 (CL. 2101-2008 2A 1288; (43) Pub. Date: Feb. 22, 2007 Publication Classification G1) Int ct 2B 1500 (200601) CRP 300 (2006.01), 2 (200601) (2) “AB5/168; 75/740; 751743: 435/252.1 on ABSTRACT The present invention is related to an isolated chem- olithottophie bacterium belonging © species Aeidichioba illus thioosidans named Licanaatay, deposited in Deutsche ‘Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zelikulturen GmibH- DSMZ with number DSM 17318, and its use ia pure form or in mixtures thet contains it for bioleching processes of minerals or sulfured metallic species concentrates. This Licanantay strain DSM 17318 has sulfucoxidizing activity in both primary ao secondary sulfved minerals, especially in the case of chaleopyrite, eovelite, bornite, chaleocte, enargite and tennantitePatent Application Publication Feb. 22,2007 Sheet 1 of 5 US 2007/0042482 AI Solubilized copper (gi!) 14 12 1 08 lr os | —® Licanantay : —O- Abiotic ov! 2 Wenelen 02 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 “Time (days) Figure 1Patent Application Publication Feb. 22,2007 Sheet 2 of 5 US 2007/0042482 AI 700 600 g 8 8 —® Licanantay —2— Wenelen —O- Abiotic ORP Ag/AgCl ae gs ss 200 100 0 20 40 60 Time (days) Figure 2Patent Application Publication Feb. 22, 2007 Sheet 3 of 5 Copper extraction (%) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 10 205.3021 40 * Time (days) Figure 3 50 60 US 2007/0042482 AI -O- Abiotic —2- Wenelen -h psM 504 -@ LicanantayPatent Application Publication Feb. 22,2007 Sheet 4 of 5 US 2007/0042482 AI Seq ID No. 1: CGTGCCAGCAGCCGCGGTAATACGGGGGGTGCAAGCGTTAATCGGAATCAG TGGGCGTAAAGGGTGCGTAGGCGGTGCATTAGGTCTGTCGTGAAATCCCCG GGCTCAACCTGGGAATGGCGGTGGAAACCGGTGTACTAGAGTATGGGAGAG GGTGGTGGAATTCCAGGTGTAGCGGTGAAATGCGTAGAGATCTGGAGGAACA TCAGTGGCGAAGGCGGCCACCTGGCCCAATACTGACGCTGAGGCACGAAAG CGTGGGGAGCAAACAGGATTAGATACCCTGGTAGTCCACGCCCTAAACGATG AATACTAGATGTTTGGTGCCAAGCGTACTGAGTGTCGTAGCTAACGCGATAAG TATTCCGCCTGGGAAGTACGGCCGCAAGGTTAAAACTCAAAGGAATTGACGG GGGCCCGCACAAGCGGTGGAGCATGTGGTTTAATTCGATGCAACGCGAAGAA CCTTACCTGGGCTTGACATGTCTGGAATCCTGCAGAGATGCGGGAGTGCCCT ‘TCGGGGAATCAGAACACAGGTGCTGCATGGCTGTCGTCAGCTCGTGTCGTGA GATGTTGGGTTAAGTCCCGCAACGAGCGCAACCCTIGTCCTTAGTTGCCAGC GGTTCGGCCGGGCACTCTAGGGAGACTGCCGGTGACAAACCGGAGGAAGGT GGGGATGACGTCAAGTCCTCATGGCCTTTATGTCCAGGGCTACACACGTGCT ACAATGGCGCGTACAGAGGGAAGCCAAGCCGCGAGGTGGAGCAGACCCCAG AAAGCGCGTCGTAGTTCGGATTGCAGTCTGCAACTCGACTGCATGAAGTCGG AATCGCTAGTAATCGCGGATCAGCATGCCGCGGTGAATACGTTCCCGGGCCT TGTACACACCGCCCGTCACACCATGGGAGTGGATTGTACCAGAAGCCGTTAG. CCTAACCTTCGGGAGGGCGATGACCACGGTATGGTTCATGACTGGGGTGAAG TCGTAACAAGGTAGCCGTAGGGGAACCTGCGGCTGGATCACCTCC. Figure 4Patent Application Publication Feb. 22,2007 Sheet 5 of 5 US 2007/0042482 A1 Sst 1 2 () Figure 5US 2007/0042482 AI SULFUR-ONIDIZING BACTERIA AND THEIR USE, IN BIOLEACHING PROCESSES FOR SULFURED COPPER MINERALS [0001] The present invention is related to isolated chem= ‘olihotrophic bacteria belonging to species deidithiobacilas {thiooxidans named |ieanantay, deposited in Deutsche Sam- miung von Mikroowanismen und Zellkulturen GmbHI- DSMZ with number DSM I7SI8, and its use im pore form ‘or in mixtures that contains it for bioleaching processes of minerals or sulfured metallic species concentrates. ‘This icanantay stain DSM 17318 has solur-oxidiving activity in both primary and secondary sulfared minerals, especially in the case of chaleopyrit, covellite, hornite, chaleocito, ‘enargte and tennantite [0002] The present invention also discloses the use ofthe abovementioned. sulfuroxidizing mesophilic bacteria in bioleaching processes where removal of elemental sulfur acting as leaching inhibitor is caried out. The addition of Licanantay bacteria to the bioleaching solution causes the sulfuric seid solution used as leaching solution to leach ‘copper minerals efficiently at ambient temperature, prevent jing atthe same time an excessive increase of the oxidation- reduction potential (ORP) that favors bioleaching. RELATED PREVIOUS ART [003] _At the present time, more than 9% of the mining ‘copper in the world is obtained fem the processing of sullured copper minerals. Among all sulfuredl copper species present in minerals, the main species are chalcopyrite omit, chaleocite, covellit, tennantite and enargte,chal- ‘eopyrite being the most relatively abundant species and therefore the most economically relevant [0004] In general, pyrometallumgie processes have been tsed {0 recover copper contents from sulfured minerals, ‘wherein metallic copper is extracted through purification stages comprising mineral concentration, fusion and con- version fie refinement and electrolysis. However, this pro- ‘ess is not economically’ viable for low metal coateat minerals asthe ones previously mentioned, Metallic eopper js extracted als by using hydrometalurgie processes a the representative SX-EW process, which comprises sulfuric acid leaching, solvent extraction, separation and electo%s= fnning stages. [0005] The hydrometallurgie process has some advantages sit has low initial capital inversion and low operation costs ‘and is applicable to many types of minerals and copper ‘content levels in the minerals ranging between oxidized ‘copper minerals and secondary copper sulfide minerals. In the bydrometallurgic process, ficiency ofthe sulfuric acid leaching stage is one ofthe main factors affecting the whole ‘copper production process. [0006] Sulfuric acid leaching can be implemented by Using well Known processes such as a chemical leaching process wherein mincral particle size and temperature are adjusted (oa bioleaching process that uses thermophilic oF mesophilic bacteria. Among these processes, the bioleaching process using, mesophilic bacteria has advantages as it can be carried out at ambient temperature and da not require ‘adkitional energy. Autotrophic bacteria and, in general, iton-oxidiving mesophilic bacterin are usd. [0007] A disadvantage is that, although the bioleaching rate is temporarily increased by the addition of iron-oxidiz- Feb. 22, 2007 ‘ng mesophilic bacteria tothe leaching Solution, the leaching rae cat ot be kept ata high level fora longtime perio: sid leaching rate decrease is due to a passivating layer covering the mineral, Seid passivating layer has Wo pos sible origins: a) elemental sulfur liberated by the bioleach- ing reaction and (b) iron (111) hydroxide tendency to form {arosite at pH values over 2, As both compouncls precipitate ‘ver the mineral, a layer ie formed covering the mineral surface which prevents copper leaching, [0008] Some propositions have been made attempting 10 ‘overeome the abovementioned bioleaching disadvantages or example, in US. Pat, No. 4.571.387 silver ion as @ reaction catalyst, an oxidant such as Fe (11), permanganie ‘cid and a hylrogen peroxide solution are added to the Teaching soliton to control oxidation-evction potential (ORD) in the solution in onder to keep ORP constant, as described in WO98/39491, being this a condition that favors sulfured mineral bioleaching, a leaching rates are lower at lower ORPs. [0009] Nevertheless, the abovementioned solutions have sisadvantages as they have a high economic cost andior ‘oxidation potential is not readily controllable inthe practice. [0010] ‘The present invention discloses a sulfur-oxiizing bacterium and the use thereof in a bioleaehing method for sulfured minerals. This method is applicable to various types ‘of minerals and copper content levels ranging between Copper oide minerals and primary and secondary eopper sulle minerals. The particularity of this process is the prevention of the passivation phenomenon that acts as leaching inhibitor, by using anaeidbioleaching solution that contains the mesophilic suuroxidizing bacteria Licanan- ‘ay, simultaneously preventing an excessive increase of the ‘oidation-reduetion potential (ORP). Thus, copper minerals are efficiently leached at ambient temperature, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OP THE INVENTION [0011) The present invention has the objective of dsclos- sophilic strain that prevents the passivation phenomenon in bioleaching processes, said phenomenon ‘acting as a bioleaching inhibitor. By using an acid bioleac ing solution that contains the mesophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria Lieanantay, an excessive increase of the oxidation- redution potential (ORP) is prevented and therefore eopper ‘minerals are efficiently lehed at ambient temperature [0012] Furthermore another objective of the present invention isa bioleaching method using a hydrometalurgic process that can be carried out ina practical situation and Under universal conditions applicable to various types of ‘minerals and copper conten levels ranging between oxi- ized copper minerals and copper sulfide minerals as chal- copyrite, borite,covellit, chaleocte, tennantite, enargite and the like. The process is preferably applied to chaleopy- fie [0013] Using mesophilic sulfur-oxidiring bacteria in the bioleaching solution, in particular Actdihiobacillus thioosi dans strain DSM 17318 named Licanantey, removal of sulfur acting as lesching inhibitor is prevented, in oder 10 Teach efficiently copper minerals st ambient temperature, simultaneously” preventing an excessive increase of theUS 2007/0042482 AI ‘oxidationsreduetion potential (ORP). Acconting to the present invention, elemental sulfur that causes the above- tentoned coverage phenomenon is removed as sulfuric id, thus preventing the decrease of bioleuehing rate [0014] Said process is carried out aerobically, preferably jn pl range between 1.0 and 1.8 and in some cases up 0 pH 2, in onder to avoid jarosite formation that limits the bioleaching process, [0015] Likewise, the ORP ofthe solution is maintained at value of 500 mV or ess relative to 3 ApiAgCI reference ‘elecirnde. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 shows copper liberation from chalcopyrite having a 28% copper content, using bacteria DSM 17318 and bacteria Wenelen DSM 16786 in leaching solution, as ‘deserbed in Example 1 [0017] FIG. 2 shows ORP variations as a fanetion of time, soherein copper leaching is earied out after the addition of diverse bacteria according to Example I [0018] FIG. 3 shows copper lemon from chalcopyrite having 228% copper content, using bacteria Licamantay and many state-of-art bacteria in leaching solution, deseribed in Example 2 [0019] FIG. 4 shows Seq ID N°I of 168 DNA gene from sngumees 1 cestgocagen googegstan tacgsopust sounyogtta atoggaaten ctyggestan 60 essatscate apegntscat taggtetste gtguaatoce egggetcane ctyggentgy 120 cgstggeane opgtgtacte sagtatguse sasostants guattccagy tetagessts 10 egctgasgen cgasagests sapascnaac aggettagat accetgstag tececgeect 300 anacgatgaa tactagatge tegatgccaa gogtactgag tatogtaget aacgogataa 360 seattoegee tgygangtac sgeosenagy ttanaactcn angguattgn opggssecey 420 cacsagoagt ggagcatgeg gtetaattog atgcaacgea aagancotta cotgggctts 480 tacetgacts teatongcte stetogtaas atgttanatt aagteccgea acgagescan 600 costagtcet tagtegocag oggttogges gaycactota gguagactge oggtgat eso legeggatcag catgcosegs tgaatacgtt eccgsgectt gtacacacag casgtaacas 900 eatgggagis gattgeacca gangoogtta goctaacctt egggaggges atgaccacgg 960 tatggttcet gactggsate aegtogtaas aaggtagess tagggaaece tecagctage 1020 1. An isolated bacterial strain, wherein sad train belongs 4. A mineral biolesching process, wherein the sulfured to species Aeidibiobacillas shiooxidans, named Lieanantay, deposited in DSMZ (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorgan- jsmen und Zelkulturen GmbH, Braunschweig, Germuny) under denomination DSM 17318; stain Licanantay DSM 17318 being obliged acidophilic and aerobic bacteria, Gram- negative bacilli, motile, using reduced sulfur compounds such as elemental sulfur, thiosulfate or tetrathionate, 10 sustain autotrophic growth; ssid Licanantay DSM. 17318 strain preventing the generation of deposits of sulfurcon- taining compounds that act as inhibitors of mineral bioleach- ing. 2. An isolated bacterial strain according to claim 1, wherein it shows increased copperleaching activity rom mixed sulfred ores, specially those containing chaleopyrit, bomite, eovelite and other simile eopper mineral species 3. A bacterial inoculum to be used in bioleaching of sulfured metallic oes, wherein sad inoculum contains strain Licanantay DSM 17318 according to claim 1, whether alone ined microbial mixtures metalic ore to be leached is inoculsed with aed bacterial solutions containing strain Licanaatay DSM 17318 aecord- ing 1 claim 1, which remove sulfur that acts as a Teaching inhibitor, and efficiently leaching copper minerals at ambient temperatures. at a pH ranging from 1.0 and 2.5 and at temperatures lower than 35° C. 5. A mineral bioleaching process according to claim 4, ‘wherein te sured metallic ore to be leached is inoculated ‘with leaching bacterial solutions contsining stain Licanan- tay DSM. 17318 and other strains 6. A mineral bioleaching process according claim 4, wherein sid metallic oes or enncentrates contain chaleopy- rite, homite,chalcosite,covellite,tennantte enargite among ‘other mineral species 7. A mineral bioleaching provess acconing to claim 4, ‘wherein the mineral is leached in pools, tanks and reactors, piles, heaps, washing dams or other “in-situ” operations. 8. A mineral bioleaching process, wherein the miner is inoculated in mixtures with recycle solutions from solvent extraction plants containing strain Lieanantay DSM 17318,US 2007/0042482 AI these bacteria removing sulfur that sets a Teaching inhibi tor, and ellcienly leaching copper minerals at ambient temperatures at a pH ranging from 1.0 and 25, 9. A process according to claim 8, wherein said metalic ‘ore or eoneenirates contain chalcopyrite, bomite, chaleoe~ ite, covelite, tennantite enargite among other mineral spe- 10, A process according to claim 8, wherein said mineral js leached in pools, tanks and reactors, piles, heaps, washing dams or other “in-situ” operations Feb. 22, 2007 11. A leaching method for copper minerals where copper is extracted from copper sulfide minerals using bydromet- allugie methods, wherein the method comprises removal of sulfur that vets asa leaching ishibitor by adding mesophilic sulfuroxidizing bacteria or strain Acidihiobacillusthioasi dans \o a sulfuric acid solution used us leaching solution, ia ‘order fo efficiently leach eopper minerals at ambient tem- peratures.