Bioleaching: Metal solubilization by microorganisms
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Bioleaching is a simple and effective technology for metal extraction from low-grade ores and mineral concentrates. Metal recovery from sulfide minerals is based on the activity of chemolithotrophic bacteria, mainly Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans, which convert insoluble metal sulfides into soluble metal sulfates. Non-sulfide ores and minerals can be treated by heterotrophic bacteria and by fungi. In these cases metal extraction is due to the production of organic acids and chelating and complexing compounds excreted into the environment. At present bioleaching is used essentially for the recovery of copper, uranium and gold, and the main techniques employed are heap, dump and in situ leaching. Tank leaching is practised for the treatment of refractory gold ores. Bioleaching has also some potential for metal recovery and detoxification of industrial waste products, sewage sludge and soil contaminated with heavy metals.
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Heap leaching has been used at some mining facilities to enhance metal extraction from low-grade sulfidic ores of copper, gold, uranium and zinc.
“Heap leaching has been used at some mining facilities to enhance metal extraction from low-grade sulfidic ores of copper, gold, uranium and zinc [59][60][61].”
From Strategizing carbon-neutral mines: A case for pilot projects (2014) · cites this paper as [60]
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- Authors
- Bosecker, K.
- Affiliations
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Bosecker, Klaus
- Venue
- FEMS Microbiology Reviews
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1997-07
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 3-4
- Pages
- 591-604
- ISSN
- 0168-6445 (ISSN-L)
- 1574-6976
- OpenAlex
- W2105769874
- Cited by
- 962
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 45 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 53 · 2021: 84 · 2020: 57 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 37
- FWCI
- 5.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- FEMS Microbiology Reviews (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Metal Extraction and Bioleaching
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Extraction and Separation Processes
- Keywords
- bioleaching, metal solubilization, metal extraction, sulfide minerals, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, chemolithotrophic bacteria, heterotrophic bacteria, fungi, organic acids, chelating agents, copper recovery, uranium recovery, gold recovery, heap leaching, dump leaching, in-situ leaching, refractory gold ores, heavy metal detoxification, sewage sludge, soil contamination
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