INTEGRATED, TANK/HEAP BIOOXIDATION PROCESS FOR THE LIXIVIATION OF SULFIDE ORES

摘要

A metal-containing refractory sulfide ore (12) is split into a first portion (16) and a second portion (18). The first portion (16) is partially biodigested by a sulfide-digesting microorganism in a biooxidation reactor (20) where the microorganism is acclimated to the sulfide 'diet' provided by the ore. The partially digested ore (22) is then combined (24) with the second portion (18). The resulting material (26) is then dewatered (25, 28), biooxidized (32), and subjected to a lixiviation process (42).