Bioleaching

Bioleaching is the extraction or liberation of <a href="/facts/Metal/PT8hNX6R">metals</a> from their <a href="/facts/Ore/kgc9DssX">ores</a> through the use of <a href="/facts/Living_organism/j8JkL09u">living organisms</a>. Bioleaching is one of several applications within <a href="/facts/Biohydrometallurgy/f5c0FUw3">biohydrometallurgy</a> and several methods are used to treat ores or concentrates containing <a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">copper</a>, <a href="/facts/Zinc/80b1qgk3">zinc</a>, <a href="/facts/Lead/EYljasJN">lead</a>, <a href="/facts/Arsenic/k1c4f44D">arsenic</a>, <a href="/facts/Antimony/YsA7lVgT">antimony</a>, <a href="/facts/Nickel/KwMCHYRP">nickel</a>, <a href="/facts/Molybdenum/RX6vp2bF">molybdenum</a>, <a href="/facts/Gold/1znknojp">gold</a>, <a href="/facts/Silver/xXe41BGg">silver</a>, and <a href="/facts/Cobalt/gqhScEw4">cobalt</a>.
Bioleaching falls into two broad categories. The first, is the use of <a href="/facts/Microorganism/pysJYcE2">microorganisms</a> to oxidize <a href="/facts/Refractory/LoKrzGkR">refractory</a> minerals to release valuable metals such and gold and silver. Most commonly the <a href="/facts/Mineral/LkUFbNmv">minerals</a> that are the target of oxidization are <a href="/facts/Pyrite/41CYREyr">pyrite</a> and <a href="/facts/Arsenopyrite/xnb3E9yK">arsenopyrite</a>.
The second category is leaching of <a href="/facts/Sulphide/d8YMjLeu">sulphide</a> <a href="/facts/Mineral/LkUFbNmv">minerals</a> to release the associated metal, for example, leaching of <a href="/facts/Pentlandite/kAmPYFqG">pentlandite</a> to release <a href="/facts/Nickel/KwMCHYRP">nickel</a>, or the leaching of <a href="/facts/Chalcocite/Scqg5pDH">chalcocite</a>, <a href="/facts/Covellite/JaELPIEw">covellite</a> or <a href="/facts/Chalcopyrite/MXBDffGw">chalcopyrite</a> to release <a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">copper</a>.

Bioleaching open-in-new

Bioleaching