Recent Developments in the Bioprocessing of Minerals

Abstract

Microorganisms are finding increasing use in minerals engineering. Goals include both enhancement of mineral engineering operations and remediation of mineral industry wastes. Some of the applications, such as biologically assisted leaching of sulfide ores and biooxidation of refractory sulfide gold ores. are established commercial processes. Others, such as the use of organisms for the removal of heavy metal ions from dilute aqueous streams, are nearing commercial application. Other uses of microorganisms are potentially possible. These include use of microorganisms in leaching non-sulfide ores, the flocculation or flotation of minerals and remediation of toxic chemicals discharged from mineral engineering operations. Genetic engineering of microorganisms and adaptation of existing strains are important potential tools in many of these applications, as is also the identification of new, novel and useful organisms.