Dissolution of uranium from silicate-apatite ore by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Bioleaching of a low-grade Indian silicate-apatite uranium ore containing 0.024% U₃O₈ and 10.6% iron with minor amounts of base metals has been reported. The studies involved extraction of uranium using enriched culture containing Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) derived from the source mine water employing bio-chemically generated ferric ion as an oxidant. Parameters such as particle size of the ore, pulp density, and pH of lixiviant media were optimised. Maximum uranium bio-dissolution of 98% was achieved using ore of mixed particles of < 76 μm size. Uranium bio-recovery was found to be 96% at the pulp density (PD) of 10% (w/v) and 20% (w/v) with the particles of < 76 μm size in 40 days at 2.0 pH and 35 °C temperature. At 1.7 pH and 20% (w/v) PD, 98% uranium bio-recovery was achieved with a rise in redox potential from 595 mV to 715 mV in 40 days. Uranium bio-dissolution may be correlated with the generation of ferric ions through the bio-chemical action on the ore. The work illustrated the efficacy of leaching of uranium by the involvement of bacteria by indirect mechanism.     

Silver catalyzed bioleaching of low-grade copper ores. Part III: Column reactors

A study of the effect of different variables (inoculation, [Ag], silver addition mode, reactivation of the ore (i.e. delayed silver addition), composition of the pregnant liquid solution, ore particle size, pH and aeration) on the silver-catalyzed bioleaching of two different low-grade copper (> 600 μm) has been investigated in column reactors.The two low-grade copper ores tested, lower K-ore and Pinto Valley Dump ore, behaved similarly during the silver catalyzed process. After more than 300 days of leaching, the addition of both silver and bacteria improved the copper extraction from both low-grade chalcopyritic ores. Copper extraction in the presence of silver displays paralinear kinetics with two stages very well defined, with the first stage being much faster than the second one.Copper extraction from the K-ore surpassed 70% after 350 days of bioleaching using low concentrations of silver (1.4 g Ag/kg Cu). The addition of silver was effective even after the bioleaching process was started. Conversely, silver addition mode and aeration were not significant variables in the bioleaching process. The effect of a pregnant liquid solution collected from a first bioleaching experiment demonstrated that the build up of the solution can negatively affect the copper extraction during the silver-catalyzed chalcopyrite process.Copper extraction from PVD ore surpassed 60% after 300 days of bioleaching using 1.24 g Ag/kg Cu. Copper extraction was substantially affected by both [Ag] and ore particle size. For the ranges between 0.25 and 1.00 g Ag/kg Cu and between < 5.08 × 10⁴ and < 1.27 × 10⁴ μm, the dissolution of copper was favoured with the highest amount of silver and the smallest particle size. On the other hand, silver concentration, pH and silver addition mode were not influential variables in the process.Chemical analyses, XRD and SEM/EDX studies were carried out on different residues after 100, 200 and 325 days of experimentation. Chemical analysis showed that copper is selectively bioleached in the presence of silver and bacteria, while silver remains in the solid phase. The SEM study showed that pyrite remains mainly unattacked during the bioleaching of chalcopyrite from the low-grade copper ore. Jarosite, gypsum and elemental sulphur precipitates have been identified on the residues.     

某铀矿石微生物柱浸翻柱对比试验

以某铀矿堆浸生产线的矿石为原料,考察微生物柱浸翻柱方式对铀浸出率的影响。结果表明,经过113天试验,两柱液计累计铀浸出率分别为80.62%和76.49%,渣计铀浸出率分别为88.67%和85.24%,耗酸率分别为9.17%和9.04%。在酸化阶段提前翻柱可有效减轻泥化、板结现象,促进铀的浸出。     

次生硫化铜矿微生物浸出实验

微生物浸矿是提取低品位,难选次生硫化铜矿中有价元素的最有效方法之一.本研究利用嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidthiobacillus ferrooxidans)浸取福建某难选次生硫化铜矿,依次开展浸矿菌富集培养实验、驯化转代实验和不同粒径配比下柱浸试验,获得了不同阶段的细菌浓度、pH值、铜浸出率等演变规律;并结合电子计算机断层扫描技术实现了柱内矿堆塌落、截面孔隙演化和浸矿机理研究.研究表明:细菌浓度和pH值均呈现缓慢增加后趋降低的趋势,浸柱中细菌增殖较慢,浸矿480 h后,细菌浓度仅为每毫升5×107个.浸矿过程中,细颗粒趋于向柱底迁移,矿堆出现塌落;柱顶孔隙率变大,增幅为6.65%,柱底孔隙率变小,降幅为8.29%;塌落程度与细粒含量成正比,最小塌落为1.7 mm,最大塌落为6.15 mm.入堆矿石粒径极大影响着柱浸体系的浸出效果.实验中柱浸B组(粒径r < 1 mm占28.41%)浸矿效果最佳,浸矿480 h后铜浸出率达47.23%.      

低品位次生硫化铜矿生物堆浸工艺优化研究

针对低品位次生硫化铜矿生物堆浸生产中浸出周期长的问题,进行了不同矿石粒度、不同堆高对铜、铁浸出影响的实验室试验和现场柱浸工业试验,优化了生物堆浸工艺,缩短浸出周期,提高了铜浸出率。结果表明,矿石粒度的降低可显著提高铜的浸出率,且不提高铁的溶出。相同粒度条件下,堆高提高有利于堆内温度保持,铜浸出率随之升高。-40mm工业柱浸出194d,铜的浸出率为62.67%,比-80mm高出10个百分点。     

低品位铀矿石微生物柱浸试验

对某低品位铀矿石进行了不同喷淋条件的微生物柱浸试验。结果表明,试验用混合菌群对目标铀矿石具有较强适应性,浸出周期172d,菌浸期间5%和10%喷淋量条件下渣计平均浸出率分别为87.70%和88.53%,耗酸率分别为5.36%和5.37%。菌浸阶段采用较大喷淋量可提高浸出率,但液固比会显著增加,综合成本相应提高。因此,喷淋量的选择应综合考虑铀资源回收率与浸出成本。     

Microbial Dissolution of Zn-Pb Sulfide Minerals Using Mesophilic Iron and Sulfur-Oxidizing Acidophiles

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of using mixed culture of iron and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria for the dissolution of metals from high-grade zinc and lead sulfide ore. Considering that the roll crusher could reduce the ore size to less than 2 mm, this size fraction was selected in order to study the possibility of removing mill circuit. Effects of parameters such as pulp density, initial pH, Fe²⁺, oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), and pH fluctuations were investigated, as well. The maximum Zn dissolution was achieved under the conditions of initial pH 2, initial 75 g/L FeSO₄ · 7H₂O, and pulp density of 50 g/L. The results indicated that under the optimum conditions, about 68.8% of zinc was leached during 24 days of bacterial leaching treatment. The lead recoveries were low (about 1%), because of precipitation of Pb as lead arsenate chloride. Furthermore, the surface studies by using SEM images showed that during chemical leaching the ore dissolution starts from surface discontinuities, but in bacterial leaching all surface becomes involved. In addition, in another process the ore was leached separately with sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, and then final results were compared to the bacterial leaching tests in order to find the optimum hydrometallurgical method to extract zinc and lead from these ores.     

Column bioleaching of a low grade nickel-bearing sulfide ore containing high magnesium as olivine,chlorite and antigorite

This work investigates the bioleaching of Jinchuan low grade nickel-bearing sulfide ore containing rather high levels of olivine, chlorite and antigorite (MgO 30–35%) present in the main gangue minerals using a mixed mesophiles which are composed of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. It aims to test the technical feasibility to recover valuable metals from Jinchuan low-grade nickel-bearing sulfide ore by bioleaching process. The tolerance of the mixed bacteria to Mg²⁺ could be improved markedly from 10 g/L to 25 g/L after nearly 2 years adaptation. A nickel recovery of 91% and a cobalt recovery of 81% were achieved in 312 days column leaching process including 60 days acid pre-leaching stage and 252 days bioleaching stage.     

Bioleaching of apatite rich low grade Indian uranium ore

Abstract

Uranium ore from Narwapahar Mines, UCIL contains 0·047% U₃O₈ with some refractory minerals and high apatite (5%) results in a maximum 78% recovery through conventional processing at UCIL, with a fairly high consumption of sulphuric acid and pyrolusite, and loss of uranium as uranium phosphate. To avoid usage of non-ecofriendly oxidants, obviate the influence of phosphate and improve the overall process output of uranium, an alternate extraction technology using microbial isolate(s) is elucidated in this study. A. ferrooxidans isolated from Narwapahar mine water was used in bioleaching of uranium from this apatite rich low grade uraninite ore. Optimum uranium biorecovery of 96% is achieved at 10% pulp density (w/v), pH 1·7 and 35°C in 40 days with the fine particles of <45 μm size. Under the optimum condition at pH 1·7, rise in redox potential is recorded to be 594–708 mV in 40 days. Bioleaching of uranium seems to follow the indirect mechanism of leaching with the involvement of Fe(III) biogenically generated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans). Uranium recovery was also examined using another mesophilic isolate of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans (L. ferrooxidans) which showed 98% uranium leaching at 40°C, which shows the possibility of improving the kinetics of the process. The high R² values in the temperature range (298–308 K) indicated uranium dissolution by the chemical reaction occurring at the ore surface with Fe(III) generated biogenically, with E_a value of 28·3 kJ mol^?1. The mechanism of uranium bioleaching is also elucidated with X-ray diffraction phase identification of the leach residues with time, followed by observing the surface morphology through SEM at varying temperatures.

Le minerai d’uranium des Mines de Narwapahar, d’UCIL, contient 0·047% d’U₃O₈ avec quelques minéraux réfractaires et une teneur élevée en apatite (5%). On note une récupération maximale de 78% par traitement conventionnel à UCIL, avec une consommation relativement élevée d’acide sulfurique et de pyrolusite, ainsi qu’une perte d’uranium sous forme de phosphate d’uranium. Afin d’éviter l’utilisation d’agents oxydants non écologiques, de prévenir l’influence du phosphate, et d’améliorer la production globale d’uranium du procédé, dans cette étude on examine une autre technologie d’extraction utilisant un (des) isolat(s) microbien(s). On a utilisé A. ferrooxidans, isolée de l’eau de mine de Narwapahar, pour la biolixiviation de l’uranium de ce minerai pauvre en uraninite et riche en apatite. La bio récupération optimale de l’uranium de 96% est obtenue à 10% PD (poids/volume) au pH de 1·7 et à 35°C en 40 jours avec les particules fines d’une taille <45 μm. Sous la condition optimale d’un pH de 1·7, on a enregistré l’augmentation du potentiel rédox à 594–708 mV en 40 jours. La biolixiviation de l’uranium semble suivre le mécanisme indirect de lixiviation avec l’implication de Fe(III) engendré bio génétiquement par A. ferrooxidans. On a également examiné la récupération de l’uranium en utilisant un autre isolat mésophile de L. ferrooxidans, qui a montré une lixiviation de 98% de l’uranium à 40°C, ce qui montre la possibilité d’améliorer la cinétique du procédé. Les valeurs élevées de R² dans la gamme de température (298–308 K) indiquaient que la dissolution de l’uranium par réaction chimique se produisait à la surface du minerai avec Fe(III) engendré bio génétiquement, à une valeur de Ea de 28·3 kJ mol^?1. Le mécanisme de biolixiviation de l’uranium est également examiné avec l’identification de phase par XRD des résidus de lixiviat en fonction du temps, suivi par l’observation de la morphologie de la surface au moyen du SEM, à des températures variées.     

Effect of pH,iron concentration,and pulp density on the solubilization of uranium from ore material in chemical and microbiological acid leach solutions: Regression equation and confidence band analysis

The solubilization of uranium from a finely ground ore material was investigated in leaching tests each lasting for about 24 h. Ferric iron, added as Fe₂(SO₄)₃ or produced by prior microbiological oxidation of FeSO₄, accelerated the rates of uranium leaching, as compared with those obtained with sulfuric acid or acidic ferrous sulfate. Pulp density and initial pH were also test variables. Yields of up to 100% uranium extraction were obtained within 24 h. Quadratic response surfaces were fitted to the experimental leach curves and confidence bands were calculated to assess the significance of the effects of pH, iron concentration, and pulp density on uranium solubilization. The general separation of the confidence bands indicated that each factor had a significant effect.     

微裂纹对硫化铜矿生物浸出的影响研究

利用紫金山低品位硫化铜矿,研究了微裂纹对铜生物浸出效果的影响。分别利用颚式破碎机、对辊破碎机和高压辊磨机对硫化铜矿进行破碎,采用体式显微镜、扫描电镜、核磁共振岩心成像系统和比表面积分析仪对矿石微裂纹及孔隙度进行观察统计与表征。结果表明,高压辊磨较颚式破碎和对辊破碎可以产生更多的微裂纹,同时高压辊磨破碎铜矿样品的孔隙度均高于颚式破碎和对辊破碎。-1.7mm粒级铜矿样品摇瓶浸出试验表明,由于高压辊磨破碎样品的比表面积和孔隙度更大,铜矿物与浸出液接触更加充分,浸出效果比颚式破碎和对辊破碎好。另外,-6.7+3.35mm粒级铜矿样品生物柱浸试验结果表明,含有更多微裂纹的高压辊磨破碎样品铜浸出率比颚式破碎提高9.10~15.43个百分点,比对辊破碎提高3.12~9.45个百分点。     

某铀矿生物浸铀过程中金属离子与铀协同浸出研究

通过室内柱浸试验,探析不同粒度（2.5~5、5~10、2.5~10 mm）铀矿在生物浸出过程中金属离子与铀浸出的规律,分析柱浸过程中pH、Eh、K+、Ca2+、Na+、Mg2+、Al3+、Fe3+与铀的浸出行为,并运用PHREEQC计算金属离子的饱和指数及浸出液中铀的存在形式。结果表明,铀矿中K+、Ca2+、Na+、Mg2+、Al3+、Fe3+与铀的浸出趋势相似,粒度越小该铀矿中浸出的金属离子越多,经过66 d柱浸试验,三种粒度的铀矿铀浸出率分别为85.93%、69.75%、79.65%。酸化阶段及菌浸阶段硬石膏达到饱和,酸化阶段磷酸铀酰达到饱和,菌浸阶段氟化铁达到饱和。柱浸浸出液中铀主要以正六价存在,酸化阶段铀化学形态主要为硫酸铀酰及磷酸铀酰,菌浸出阶段主要为硫酸铀酰及氟化铀酰。     

黄铁矿筑堆方式对微生物浸铀的影响

在黄铁矿混合筑堆、顶置筑堆和分层筑堆三种情况下,通过柱浸方式对铀矿石进行微生物浸铀试验,探索微生物浸铀中黄铁矿的最佳筑堆方式。结果表明,混合筑堆、顶置筑堆、分层筑堆的渣计浸出率分别为89.12%、84.37%、85.47%,与顶置筑堆和分层筑堆的柱浸相比,混合筑堆对微生物浸铀具有强化作用。     

Silver-catalyzed bioleaching of low-grade copper ores.: Part I: Shake flasks tests

A study of the effect of different variables (inoculation, pulp density, [Ag], nutrient medium, pH and [Fe³⁺]) on the silver-catalyzed bioleaching of a low-grade copper sulfide ore has been carried out in shake flasks. Chalcopyrite was the dominant copper mineral in the ore. Preliminary tests showed that addition of other ions (Sb, Bi, Co, Mn, Ni and Sn) did not enhance the copper dissolution rate. Conversely, an inoculation with mesophilic microorganisms and the addition of silver had a markedly catalytic effect on the extraction of copper. The kinetics of the silver-catalyzed chalcopyritic ore bioleaching was greatly affected by pulp density and silver concentration. Small amounts of silver (14.7 g Ag/kg Cu) dramatically accelerated the copper dissolution process while large amounts (294.12 g Ag/kg Cu) had an inhibitory effect. The copper dissolution rate was slightly affected in the range of pH between 1.2 and 2.5 but was significantly slower at pH 3.0. The effect of [Fe³⁺] in the presence of silver was studied both in abiotic and biotic conditions. High ferric iron concentrations in abiotic tests recovered similar copper amounts (∼ 95%) to those obtained without or with low [Fe³⁺] in the presence of bacteria. The leaching of copper from the low-grade copper ore can be very effectively enhanced with silver and mesophilic microorganisms. For that system, the onset of oxidizing conditions starts at an Eh value slightly higher than 650 mV. Above that critical value of potential the copper dissolution rate slows down. This also corresponds with the completion of the leaching process. As the potential rises past 650 mV, the copper extraction reaches a plateau.     

外源Fe2+浓度及矿物粒径对生物浸铀的影响

为改善以往生物浸铀效率不高的缺陷,通过添加外源Fe2+及改变矿物粒径来提高生物对铀的浸出率。研究结果表明：外源Fe2+浓度分别为0、0.5、1.0和2.0 g/L时,铀浸出率分别为87.34%、88.27%、91.23%、89.13%,当浸出体系中Fe2+浓度为1.0 g/L时,铀矿石会产生部分溶解且表面粗糙孔隙明显,有利于铀的浸出,溶浸液中存在适量的Fe2+对生物浸铀的能力具有提升效果。另外,外源Fe2+对铀矿生物浸出符合固体产物层缩核模型,浸出过程主要受扩散控制。当粒径＜- mm和-5 mm时铀浸出率分别为91.23%和83.70%,矿物粒径适当减小可增大颗粒比表面积,同样利于铀的浸出。     

低品位硫化镍铜矿生物浸出工艺研究

研究了某低品位硫化镍铜矿的生物浸出工艺矿物学,考察了接种量、初始pH、矿石粒度、浸出周期对该矿摇瓶浸出过程的影响。在矿石粒度-0.074 mm占90%、矿浆浓度2%、细菌接种量30%、初始pH 1.5、浸出周期30天、摇床转速150 r/min的条件下,可获得最大的镍铜浸出率,分别为89.79%和41.80%。     

Observations of solution transport,permeability, and leaching reactions in large,controlled, copper-bearing waste bodies

The leaching characteristics (waste-body temperature profiles, total daily oxygen consumption, and copper extraction as well as solution chemistry features) are compared for two vastly different, large (1.7 × 10⁵ kg) low-grade, copper-bearing waste bodies. One column, a Kennecott-Santa Rita waste (0.36% total Cu) was primarily a chalcocite waste with little detectable acid consumption, requiring essentially no neutralization while the other column; a Duval-Sierrita waste (0.34% total Cu) was primarily a chalcopyrite waste with high acid consumers present in the host rock, and requiring a lengthy neutralization period. This latter column which measured 3.1 m in diameter, was appropriately scaled down with two smaller columns measuring 0.38 and 0.10 m in diameter, respectively. The initial permeability and drain-down characteristics are compared along with final permeabilities in the Kennecott-Santa Rita waste body (following the conclusion of leaching experiments). A post-leaching [Cl^?] tracer test conducted on the Kennecott-Santa Rita column suggests that, consistent with indications from permeability data, dead spaces occurred within the waste body and these features seem to have contributed to the leaching performance and characteristics. Scaling experiments were observed to accurately characterize and follow the neutralization of the Duval-Sierrita waste (as determined by monitoring effluent solution pH), but there was little correlation between copper extracted in the large Duval-Sierrita waste column (3.1 m diameter) and the smallest laboratory column (0.1 m diameter).     

细菌接种量对铀生物浸出的影响

以某难处理铀矿石为原料,开展了不同细菌接种量对铀生物浸出的影响研究。在相同浸出条件下,经84h浸出,5%、10%、20%和30%细菌接种量的铀浸出率分别为50.46%、56.42%、62.38%和67.05%,细菌接种量越大,铀浸出率也越高。在铀矿生物浸出工艺中,可以通过控制细菌接种量来获得适宜的浸铀效率。     

铀矿石不同酸度下细菌的溶浸试验

对某铀矿石在不同酸度下细菌溶浸浸铀进行了对比试验,分析了浸出过程中铀浸出率、酸耗和细菌生长等变化规律。结果表明,该铀矿石不同酸度下细菌溶浸效果较好,液计平均浸出率为87.7%,渣计平均浸出率为94.1%;另外,在酸化阶段,硫酸浓度对浸出总耗酸影响不大,但浓酸可以大幅度缩短酸化时间;在细菌浸出阶段,pH越高耗酸越低,细菌生长情况越好,但铀浸出率并未随之增高,主要是因为较高pH的浸出液中容易产生铁的氢氧化物和铁矾沉淀,阻止了铀的进一步浸出。     

The effect of preferential flow on extraction and surface morphology of copper sulphides during heap leaching

Despite the commercial achievement of heap leaching of some copper, gold, zinc, and nickel minerals, there is limited comprehension of the flow pattern within the heap. Several field investigations have suggested that bypassing of ore by leaching solution is a common phenomenon, and the leaching process was significantly influenced by it. The extraction and surface morphology of low-grade copper sulphides under the condition of preferential flow was investigated in this paper. The experiment result, conducted within a novel bioleaching apparatus, shown that majority of acid was consumed by alkaline gangue and matrix, so the concentration of Cu²⁺ and total Fe increased slightly at the initial leaching stage. The ore extraction decreased with the increasing of its location depth, for instance, the ore extractions of the top and bottom region were 29% and 2% respectively. Preferential flow happened within the fine region due to the low irrigation employed by this experiment, and the extraction of fine ores was larger than that of coarse ores. The SEM images showed that the surface of top ores within the column was degraded seriously, but the middle and bottom ores were attacked slightly. Plenty of cracks were observed on the bottom ore surface due to the precipitation layer of sulfur and jarosite.