Sulfur compounds conversion and metal recovery using bioprocess technology

摘要

Paques has designed and installed metal and sulfate removal systems based on biotechnological processes. A Paques treatment system has been in operation at a zinc refinery since May 1992 treating a flow of 5000 m~3/d. Sulfate is reduced to below 200 mg/l, while metal removals exceed 99percent. In North America, pilot testing has demonstrated that copper and zinc can be selectively recovered from mine waters using biologically produced hydrogen sulfide. Using efficient bioreactors and hydrogen gas as a reductant, hydrogen sulfide can be produced economically at ambient pressure and temperature, from a variety of readily available sulfur sources such as flue gas, acid mine drainage, acid plant blow down, elemental sulfur. This paper addresses the costs associated with the biological production of hydrogen sulfide and discusses possible applications of sulfate reduction and sulfide precipitation in nickel/cobalt metallurgy.