Biomining

These slides provide a great knowledge about biomining, its types and its steps. These slides also provide the concise information about future of biomining.

1. Biomining Group partners : M Danish-15 Umair Asghar-17 Qamar Abbas-19

2. Outline :

3. Mining refers to the extraction of the valuable things or elements. These things maybe organic or inorganic. The extraction can be takes place through many processes. Mining :

4. Mining techniques:

5. 1). Non-Biological technique:

6. This technique also consist on two procedures: Direct Heat procedure Steam Assisted procedure Direct Heat procedure: The dry heat procedure can be assisted at extreme temperature (40°C to 60°C). Steam Assisted procedure: In this procedure steam is used to extract valuable things or elements. Temperature Assisted technique:

7. 2). Biological technique : This technique involves the following technique: Biomining Bioleaching Bio-oxidation Biodegradation Bioremediation Bioextraction

8. Biomining is biologically assisted approach to recover the valuable elements from rocks, ores and reserviors using number of biological or microbial cultures. Biomining is also known as microbial mining . It is an in situ procedure. In situ mean it is on site experimentation (in its original position). In this, microorganisms are used to leach out the minerals, rather than traditional methods. Biomining :

9. Figure s :

10. Iron and sulfur-oxidizing microbes are used to release occluded copper, gold and uranium from mineral sulphides. Some microbes produce acids called bioacids . Acidithiobacillus or leptospirillum ferrooxidans produce acids. These acids oxidize or reduce the metals or other elements into solublize form. Pyrococcus furiosus and Pyrobaculum islandicum are iron and sulfur oxidizer. Pyrococcus species were shown to reduce gold chloride to insoluble gold. Microbes involve in Biomining:

11. Diagram Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans :

12. South Africa Brazil Australia And other several countries are using biomining techniques now a days. Countries using biomining technique:

13. Steps of Biomining:

14. Geological Area Dimension of Area Importance & application of metals Soil enrichment analysis Cost of benefit ratio Feasibility of suitable technique The phase is also called as documentation . Step 1). Feasibility report & site selection :

15. Heap contents are formed on the nylon sheet. Water showering system is places to sustain environmental condition. A collecting bin is attached to it for the collection of leaching contents. Biomining is carried out by two processes: Bioleaching : It is the extraction of desirable elements. Bio-oxidation : It is the extraction of non-desirable elements. Step 2). Heap Formation :

16. Step 2). Diagram :

17. In this step microbes are used. Microbes are dumped on the heap contents for the extraction of valuable elements. Step 3). Microbial & Culture Dumping :

18. There is maintenance of cultures. Mesophiles are used that bear temperature (15°C to 40°C). They produce bioacids, biosurfactants, catalyst. Step 4). Incubation & Maintenance :

19. It is a downstream procedure. Primary and secondary metabolites are produced. Primary Metabolites: The metabolites that are produced and utilized by cell. For example ; enzymes, hormones, signaling peptides. Secondary Metabolites: The metabolites that are produced and cannot be utilized by cell. For example ; toxins, antibiotics, organic acid. Step 5). Recovery of metals/elements :

20. After the recovery of metabolites the process of purification occurs. Purification : Purification is the process of cleaning by getting rid of impurities. After purification we get our valuable elements from ores, rocks and reserviors in the pure form. Continue…

21. It provides a high efficiency and low cost extraction process. Improved rate of metal recovery A self managing process Environmental friendly Requires low operator skills Easier to get permits Appropriate to recovering a wide spectrum of metals. Advantages of Biomining:

22. Biomining could have a bright future in the mining industry. For example: The need for the treatment of refractory gold concentrates is increasing, as the easy to treat oxides ores are being depleted. For this reason, it is believed that biomining will continue to be one of the most important technologies for the treatment of refractory gold ores and will only improve over time. Future of Biomining:

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