Bio

BIOLEACHING
Assignment

Submitted By: Tausif

Iqbal
SP18-BSO-101
 BBS-5A

Bioleaching

Bioleaching is the process by which metals are dissolved from ore bearing rocks using
microorganisms.
Microorganisms used in bioleaching:
The most commonly used microorganisms in bioleaching are;

• Thiobacillus thiooxidants
• Thiobacillus ferrooxidants
• Bacillus Licheniformis
• B. luteus
• B megaterium
• B polymyxa
• B leptospirillum ferrooxidants
• Pseudomonas flurescens  Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
General chemistry of bioleaching:
Bioleaching of metal sulfides is effected by bacteria, like Thiobacillus ferrooxidans,
Leptospirillum ferrooxidans, Sulfolobus/Acidianus, etc., via the (re)generation of iron (III) ions
and sulfuric acid.
Thiobacillus thiooxidant and T. ferrooxidants have always been found to be present on the
leaching dump
The specie of thiobacillus is most extensively studied gram –ve bacteria which derives energy
from oxidation of fe2

 Chemical process during bioleaching:

According to the new integral model for bioleaching presented, metal sulfides are degraded by
a chemical attack of iron (III) ions and/or protons on the crystal lattice. The primary iron (III)
ions are supplied by the bacterial extracellular polymeric substances, where they are
complexed to glucuronic acid residues. The mechanism and chemistry of the degradation is
determined by the mineral structure.
The disulfides pyrite (FeS2), molybdenite (MoS2), and tungstenite (WS2) are degraded via the
main intermediate thiosulfate. Exclusively iron (III) ions are the oxidizing agents for the
dissolution. Thiosulfate is, consequently, degraded in a cyclic process to sulfate, with elemental
sulfur being a side product. This explains, why only iron (II) ion-oxidizing bacteria are able to
oxidize these metal sulfides.
The metal sulfides galena (PbS), sphalerite (ZnS), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), hauerite (MnS2),
orpiment (As2S3), and realgar (As4S4) are degradable by iron (III) ion and proton attack.
Consequently, the main intermediates are polysulfides and elemental sulfur (thiosulfate is only
a by-product of further degradation steps). The dissolution proceeds via a H2S*+-radical and
polysulfides to elemental sulfur. Thus, these metal sulfides are degradable by all bacteria able
to oxidize sulfur compounds (like T. thiooxidans, etc.). The kinetics of these processes are
dependent on the concentration of the iron (III) ions and, in the latter case, on the solubility
product of the metal sulfide.
Types of reaction:
The reactions mechanisms are two types:
• Direct bacterial leaching
• Indirect bacterial leaching

 Direct bacterial leaching:

Direct bacterial leaching in this process, a physical contact exist between bacteria and ores and
oxidation of minerals takes place though enzymatically catalyzed steps.
Example:

 pyrite is oxidised to ferric sulphate as, 2FeS2 +

7O2 + 2H2O → 2FeSo4 + 2H2So4

 Indirect bacterial leaching:

Indirect bacterial leaching in this process the microbes are not in direct contact with minerals,
but leaching agents are produced by these microbes which oxidize the ores.
In situ bioleaching:

• In this process the ore remains in its original position in earth.

• Surface blasting of earth is done to increase the permeability of water.
• Water containing thiobacillus is pumped through drilled passages to the ores  Acidic
water seeps through the rock and collects at bottom.
• Again, water is pumped from bottom
• Mineral is extracted and water is reused after generation of bacteria
Example:

 Copper Leaching:

Ores of copper from which copper is recovered are,

 • Chalcocite(Cu2S)
• Chalcopyrite(CuFeS2)
• Covellite(CuS)
• Copper leaching is operated as simple heap leaching and in situ leaching process
• Dilute sulphuric acid is percolated down through the pile
• Liquid coming out of bottom of pile reach in mineral
• Liquid is collected and transported to precipitation plant
• Metal is precipitated an purified
Chemical reactions in copper leaching:

• Chalcocite is oxidized to soluble form of copper Cu2S+O2 → CuS+Cu2+ +H2O

• Thereafter chemical reactions occur, i.e.

CuS+8Fe +4H2O → Cu+8Fe+SO4+8H

• Copper is removed,
Fe0+Cu → Cu+Fe2+

• Fe2+ is transferred to oxidation pond,

Fe + 1/4(O2) + H+ → Fe3+ +1/2(H2O)

• Fe3+ ions produced is an oxidation of ore

• It is pumped back to pile
• Sulphuric acid is added to maintain pH Commercial scale processes for bioleaching:
Commercial metal extraction is a quicker process that can be optimized through humidity,
potential hydrogen (pH), temperature, and chemical elements.

The most common commercial scale processes are:

1: Slope leaching:
Fine ore is kept in a large, slope-shaped dump. During slope leaching, a water solution made of
inoculum is continuously sprayed over the ore. After that, the leach liquor (or remaining liquid)
is gathered at the bottom and processed for supplemental metal recovery.
2: Heap Leaching:
In this technique, the ore is arranged in large heaps. During heap leaching, an aqueous mixture
of microorganisms is sprinkled over the leach pile. Then, the solution is collected and
processed to help recover even more metal.
3: In-situ leaching:
The ore remains in its natural state while the leaching process takes place. Water that contains
thiobacillus is pushed through drilled passageways within the ore. The leach fluid is then stored
until it is time for metal recovery.
Advantages of bioleaching:

• Bioleaching can stabilize sulphate toxins from the mine without causing harm to the
environment.
• Poisonous sulfur dioxide emissions harm the environment and can cause health
problems for miners, and bioleaching avoids this process entirely.
• Bioleaching is more cost-effective than smelting processes.
• Some Bioleaching offers a different way to extract valuable metals from low-grade ores
that have already been processed.

References: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572440999800054
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0892687503003911

https://worldwidescience.org/topicpages/c/commercial+bioleaching+environments.html

https://academic.oup.com/femsre/article/20/3 -4/591/517205

https://academic.oup.com/femsre/article/20/3 -4/591/517205