Bioleaching of a sulphide concentrate in a saline solution

摘要

A method of treating a sulphide mineral which includes the step of bioleaching the mineral in a saline solution using at least one salt tolerant bacterium. The salt content of the solution may lie in the range of 10000 to 35000 ppm Cl-. Suitable bacteria include a salt tolerant strain of Thiobacillus prosperus, Acidhalobacter ferrooxidans and Acidhalobacter aeolicus.