Biomineralization-use of microbial activity to immobilize metals in mining wastes and contaminated soils

摘要

Pintail Systems Inc.has developed a biomineralization process as an adjunct treatment to degradation of cyanide in mine wastes. It was observed that along with the biodegradation of the cyanide contained in a waste ore heap, metals were being accumulated in new aggregates. Studies conducted by Pintail Systems, inc.have shown that the transformations of the metals may be augmented and controlled by specific actions taken with the waste ores or soils to speed up and control these transformations. Several years of work have been carried out with ore heaps as large as 140,000 tons as well as bench-scale and pilot-scale research.