Advertisement

Biomining pp 45-80 | Cite as

The BIOX® Process for Biooxidation of Gold-Bearing Ores or Concentrates

  • David W. Dew
  • Ellen N. Lawson
  • Jennifer L. Broadhurst
Chapter
Part of the Biotechnology Intelligence Unit book series (BIOIU)

Abstract

GENCOR S.A. Ltd. has pioneered the commercialization of biooxidation of refractory gold ores. Development of the BIOX® process started in the late 197os at GENCOR Process Research, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The early work was championed by Eric Livesey-Goldblatt, the manager of GENCOR Process Research who directed pioneering and innovative research into bacterial oxidation of refractory gold ores prior to cyanidation. This work was driven by the need to replace Fairview’s outmoded Edward’s roasters, which at the time were seriously contributing to pollution in the Barberton area.

Keywords

Sulfide Oxidation Toxicity Characteristic Leach Proce Gold Recovery Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans Gold Dissolution 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    Hansford GS, Bailey AD. A fluidised bed reactor as a tool for the investigation of oxygen availability on the biooxidation rate of sulfide minerals at high solid concentrations. Minerals Engineering 1993; 6:387-396.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Hansford GS, Bailey AD. Factors affecting biooxidation of sulfide minerals at high concentrations of solids. Biotechnol Bioeng 1993; 42:1164-1174.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Dew DW, Miller DM, van Aswegen PC. GENMIN’S Commercialization of the Bacterial Oxidation Process for the Treatment of Refractory Gold Concentrates. Randol Gold Forum Beaver Creek `93, Sept. 7-9. 1993:229-237.Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    van Aswegen PC. Biooxidation of Refractory Gold Ores-The GENMIN Experience, Biomine ‘83 Conference, Adelaide, March 1993.Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    van Aswegen PC. Commissioning and operation of biooxidation plants for the treatment of refractory gold ores, Milton E Wadsforth ( IV ) Symposium on Hydrometallurgy, Salt Lake City, August 1993.Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    van Aswegen PC, Marais HJ. Overview of Biooxidation Treatment of Refractory Gold Ores. Reference not available from GENCOR Process Research, Randburg, South Africa.Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Acuna J, Rojas J, AM Amano AM et al. Chemotaxis of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and other acidophilic chemolithotrophs: comparison with the Escherichia coli chemosensory system. FEMS Micro Lett 1992; 96:37-42.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Sand W, Rohda K, Sobotke B et al. Evaluation of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans for leaching. Appl Environ Micro 1992; 58:85-92.Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Huber H, Huber G, Stetter KO. A modified DAPI Fluorescence staining procedure suitable for the visualization of lithotrophic bacteria. System Appl Microbiol 1985; 6: 105–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Shrihari J, Modek JM, Kuner R et al. Dissolution of particles of pyrite mineral by direct attachment of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Hydrometallurgy 1995; 38:175-187.Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Malatt K, Ralph D. Fundamental aspects of arsenopyrite leaching. Biomine’94 Conference Proceedings. Perth, W Australia 1994.Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Ohmura N, Kitamura K, Saiki H. Selective adhesion of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans to pyrite. Appl Environ Micro 1993; 59:4044-4050.Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    Boon M, Hansford GS, Heijnen JJ. The role of bacterial ferrous iron oxidation in the biooxidation of pyrite. In: Vargas T, Jerez CA, Wiertz JV, Toledo H. eds, Biohydrometallurgical Processing Vol 1. University of Chile Press 1995:153-i63.Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    Jerez CA, Arredondo R. A sensitive immunological method to enumerate Leptospirillum ferrooxidans in the presence of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. FEMS Micro Lett 1991; 78:99-102.Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    Rawlings DE. Restriction enzyme analysis of 165 DNA genes for the rapid identification of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans strains in leaching environments. In: Vargas T, Jerez CA, Wiertz JV, Toledo H, eds, Biohydrometallurgical Processing Vol 2. University of Chile Press 1995: 9–17.Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Schloter M, Abmus B, Hartman A. The use of immunological methods to detect and identify bacteria in the environment. Biotechnology Advances 1995; 13: 75–90.Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    Garcia A, Jerez CA. Changes of the solid-adhered populations of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans in leaching ores as determined by immnological analysis. In: Vargas T, Jerez CA, Wiertz JV, Toledo H. eds, Biohydrometallurgical Processing Vol 2. University of Chile Press 1995: 19–30.Google Scholar
  18. 18.
    Helle U, Onken U. Continuous microbial leaching of a pyrite concentrate by Leptospirillum-like bacteria. Appl Microbial Biotechnol 1988; 28:553-558.Google Scholar
  19. 19.
    Goebel BM, Stackebrandt E. Cultural and phylogenetic analysis of mixed microbial populations found in natural and commercial bioleaching environments. Appl Environ Micro 1994; 60: 1614–1621.Google Scholar
  20. 20.
    Monnoy Fernandez MG, Mustin C, de Donato P et al. Occurrences at mineral-bacteria interface during oxidation of arsenopyrite by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Biotech Bioeng 1995; 46: 13–21.Google Scholar
  21. 21.
    Dew DW. Comparison of performance for continuous biooxidation of refractory gold ore flotation concentrates. In: Vargas T, Jerez CA, Wiertz JV, Toledo H. eds, Biohydrometallurgical Processing. Vol 1. University of Chile Press 1995: 239–251.Google Scholar
  22. 22.
    Lawson EN, Nicholas CS, Pellat H. The toxic effect of chloride ions on Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. In: Vargas T, Jerez CA, Wiertz JV, Toledo H. eds, Biohydrometallurgical Processing Vol 1. University of Chile Press 1995:i65-174.Google Scholar
  23. 23.
    Silver MP, Lundgren DG. Studies on the chemoautotrophic iron bacteria Ferro bacillus ferrooxidans,II Manometric Studies. J Bacteriol 1959; 78326-323.Google Scholar
  24. 24.
    Lawson EN. Environmental influences on BIOX°. Bacterial Oxidation Colloquium SAIMM 1991.Google Scholar
  25. 25.
    Tuovinen OH, Niemela SI, Gyllenberg HG. Effect of mineral nutrients and organic substances on the development of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Biotech Bioeng 1971; 13: 517–527.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. 26.
    Denisov GV, Kovrov BG, Tnibachev IN et al. Composition of a growth medium for continuous cultivation of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Microbiolgiya 1980; 49:341-341.Google Scholar
  27. 27.
    McCready RGL, Wadden D, Marchbank A. Nutrient requirements for the inplace leaching of uranium by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Hydromet 1986; 17: 61–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. 28.
    Norris PR, Murrell JC, Hinson D. The potential for diazotrophy in iron and sulfur-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria. Arch Microbiol 1995; i64:294-300.Google Scholar
  29. 29.
    Miller DM. Effect of Temperature on BIOX° Operations, SAIMM Bacterial Oxidation Colloquium, Johannesburg, June 1991.Google Scholar
  30. 30.
    Gates LE, Morton JR, Fondy PL. Selecting agitator systems to suspend solids in liquids, Chem Eng 24 May 1976.Google Scholar
  31. 31.
    Fraser GM. Mixing and oxygen transfer on mineral bioleaching. Biomine `93 Conference Adelaide 22–23 March 1993:16. 1–16. 11Google Scholar
  32. 32.
    Fraser GM, Kubera PM, Schutte MD et al. Process mechanical design aspects for LIGHTNIN A315 agitators in minerals oxidation. Randol Gold Forum, Beaver Creek `93 7–9 September 1993: 247–253.Google Scholar
  33. 33.
    Mills DB, Bar R, Kirwaa. Effect of solids on oxygen transfer in agitated three-phase systems. AIChE Journal September 1987: Vol. 33 No. 9.Google Scholar
  34. 34.
    Miller DM. Use of the logistic model for the interpretation of bacterial sulfide oxidation. Report No. PR91/51F (Note for the Record) Internal Report GENCOR Process Research 28 March 1991.Google Scholar
  35. 35.
    Classen R. The effect of mineralogy on the bacterial oxidation of a refractory gold-bearing sulfide from a Barberton deposit. Colloquium on Bacterial Oxidation SAIMM Johannesburg June 18, 1991.Google Scholar
  36. 36.
    Lawson EN. Private communication with the author ( GENCOR Process Research, South Africa ), 1995.Google Scholar
  37. 37.
    Silver S, Budd K, Leahy K M et al. Inducible plasmid determined resistance to arsenate, arsenite and antimony (III) in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol 1981; 146: 983–996.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  38. 38.
    Broadhurst JL. Arsenite build-up during BIOX® operations: A review and assessment. GENCOR Process Research, Internal Report No. PR95/15 24, February 1995.Google Scholar
  39. 39.
    Broadhurst J L. Neutralization of arsenic bearing BIOX® liquors. Minerals Eng 1994; 7: 1029–1038.Google Scholar
  40. 40.
    Rosengrant L, Fargo L. Final best demonstrated available technology (BDAT) background document for Ko31, Ko84, K101, K1o2, characteristic arsenic wastes (Doo4), characteristic selenium wastes (Dom), and P and U wastes containing arsenic and selenium listing constituents. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Report No. PB90–234014, 1990.Google Scholar
  41. 41.
    Broadhurst JL. The nature and stability of arsenic residues from the BIOr process. Biomine `93 Conference proceedings, Adelaide, 1993.Google Scholar
  42. 42.
    U.S. EPA toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. In: US Environmental Protection Agency Register 1991; 4o CFR, chapter 1, Appendix II of part 261: 66–81.Google Scholar
  43. 43.
    U.S. EPA Identification and listing of hazardous waste. In: US Environmental Protection Agency Register 1991; 40 CFR, chapter 1, part 261: 27–261.Google Scholar
  44. 44.
    Robins RG, Huang JC, Nishimura T et al. The absorption of arsenate ion by ferric hydroxide. In: Reddy RG, Hendrix JL, Queneau PB, eds. Arsenic Metallurgy Fundamentals and Applications. AIME Publication, 198899-112.Google Scholar
  45. 45.
    Papassiopi N, Stefanakis M, Kontopoulus A. Removal of arsenic from solutions by precipitation as ferric arsenates. In: Reddy RG, Hendrix JL, Queneau PB, eds. Arsenic Metallurgy Fundamentals and Applications. AIME Publication, 1988: 321-334.Google Scholar
  46. 46.
    Stefanakis M, Kantopoulos A. Production of environmentally acceptable arsenites-arsenates from solid arsenic trioxide. In: Reddy RG, Hendrix JL, Queneau PB, eds. Arsenic Metallurgy Fundamentals and Applications. AIME Publication, 1988: 287–303.Google Scholar
  47. 47.
    Therdkiattikul S, Dahlstrom DA. Safe disposal of liquor containing arsenic and heavy metals from bacterial leaching of refractory gold concentrates. In: Randol Gold Forum Proceedings. Beaver Creek, 1993: 373–377.Google Scholar
  48. 48.
    Vircikova E, Molnar L, Lech P et al. Solubilities of amorphous Fe-As precipitates. Hydrometallurgy 1995; 38: 111–123.Google Scholar
  49. 49.
    Krause E, Ettel VA. Solubilities and stabilities of ferric arsenate compounds. Hydrometallurgy 1989; 22:311-337.Google Scholar
  50. 50.
    Krause E, Ettel VA. Ferric arsenate compounds-are they environmentally safe? In: Impurity Control and Disposal. The 15th Annual CIM Hydrometallurgy Meeting Proceedings. Vancouver, 1985: 5–20.Google Scholar
  51. 51.
    Harris GB, Monette S. The stability of arsenic bearing residues. In: Reddy RG, Hendrix JL, Queneau PB, eds. Arsenic Metallurgy Fundamentals and Applications. AIME Publication, 1988:469-488.Google Scholar
  52. 52.
    Nishimura T, Tozawa K. Removal of arsenic from waste water by addition of calcium hydroxide and stabilization of arsenic-bearing precipitates by calcination. In: Impurity Control and Disposal. The 15th Annual CIM Hydrometallurgy Meeting Proceedings. Vancouver, 1985:3–1 to 3–18.Google Scholar
  53. 53.
    Barrett J, Hughes MN, Simons C. The nature and stability of precipitated solids from arsenopyrite biooxidation effluents. In: Randol Gold Forum Proceedings. Cairns, 1991: 179–183.Google Scholar
  54. 54.
    Robins RG. The stability and solubility of ferric arsenate: an update. In: Gaskell PR, ed. EPD Congress Proceedings. The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 1990: 93–104.Google Scholar
  55. • Robins RG, Wong PLM, Nishimura, T et al. Basic ferric arsenates-nonexistant. In: Randol Gold Forum Proceedings. Cairns, 1991: 197–200.Google Scholar
  56. 56.
    Swash PM, Monhemius AJ. Hydrothermal precipitation from aqueous solutions containing iron (III), arsenate and sulfate. Hydrometallurgy `94 Proceedings. Chapman Hall; 1994177-190.Google Scholar
  57. 57.
    Lawrence RW, Marchant PB. Biochemical pre-treatment in arsenical gold ore processing. In: Reddy RG, Hendrix JL, Queneau PB, eds. Arsenic Metallurgy Fundamentals and Applications. AIME Publication, 1988: 199–211.Google Scholar
  58. 58.
    Morin D, 011iver P, Toromanoff I et al. Bioleaching of gold refractory arsenopyrite rich sulfide concentrate: laboratory and pilot case studies. In: Gaskell PR, ed. EPD Congress Proceedings. The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 1991: 577–589.Google Scholar
  59. 59•.
    Adam K, Komnitsas C, Papassiopi NL et al. Stability of arsenical bacterial oxida-Google Scholar
  60. tion products. In: Hydrometallurgy `94 Proceedings. Chapman Hall, 1994: 291–311.Google Scholar
  61. o. Longhans D, Lord A, Lampshire D et al. Biooxidation of an arsenic-bearing re-Google Scholar
  62. fractory gold ore. Minerals Engineering 1995; 8 (1/2): 147–158.Google Scholar
  63. 61.
    Nishimura T, Itoh CT, Tozawa K. Stabilities and solubilities of metal arsenites and arsenates in water and effect of sulfate and carbonate ions on their solubilitites. In: Reddy RG, Hendrix JL, Queneau PB, eds. Arsenic Metallurgy Fundamentals and Applications. AIME Publication. 1988: 77–98.Google Scholar
  64. 62.
    Teixera LA, Monteiro AG, Kohler HM. The detoxification of effluents containing arsenic with iron sulfate and hydrogen peroxide In: Gaskell PR, ed. EPD Congress Proceedings. The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 1990: 189–201.Google Scholar
  65. 63.
    Barrett J, Ewart DK, Hughs MN et al. The oxidation of arsenic in arsenopyrite: the toxicity of As(III) to a moderately thermophilic mixed culture. In: Biohydrometallurgy Conference Proceedings, 1989:49-57.Google Scholar
  66. 64.
    Barrett J, Ewart DK, Hughs MN et al. Chemical and biological pathways in the bacterial oxidation of arsenopyrite and arsenic (III). Paper presented at the Biohydrometallurgy Symposium, Portugal, 1991.Google Scholar
  67. 65.
    Kust RN. Improved Technology for precipitating metal hydroxides. In: Reddy RG, Imrie WP, Queneau PB, eds. Residues and Effluents—Processing and Environmental Considerations, Warrendale, PA. The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 1991: 793–800.Google Scholar
  68. 66.
    U.S. EPA. Land disposal restrictions. In: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Register 1991; 4o CFR, chapter 1, part 268: 744–846.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1997

Authors and Affiliations

  • David W. Dew
  • Ellen N. Lawson
  • Jennifer L. Broadhurst

There are no affiliations available

Personalised recommendations

Cite chapter

Buy options