Recycling bioremediated cyanidation tailings wastewater within the biooxidation circuit for gold recovery: impact on process performance and water management

摘要

Small scale batch experiments were conducted to assess potential to recycle bioremediated cyanidation tailings water (ASTER~(TM) water) within the biooxidation circuit and reduce nutrient demand of biooxidation operations. Cultures grown in oK medium or ASTER~(TM) water with and without nutrient supplementation were compared. The microbial community was challenged with thiocyanate (SCN). ASTER~(TM) water cannot provide sufficient nutrients to sustain growth and metabolic activity of the culture. Supplemented ASTER~(TM) water promoted growth and activity comparable to cultures grown in o K media. Elevated thiocyanate concentrations (5 mg/L) altered community structure, resulting in loss of iron-oxidising bacterium L. ferriphilum, affecting process performance.