Inhibiting microbial leaching of metal sulphide(s) - by treatment with microbicide, used for inhibiting leaching of heavy metals or radioactive metals from waste tips in e.g. mining industry, etc.

摘要

Microbial leaching is inhibited by treating the material with a biocide or microbial growth inhibitor. The biocide is a substance toxic to Thiobacillus spp., esp. a paraffin sulphonate or an inorganic fluoride. In the latter case, a barrier layer of carbonates or hydroxides is used to prevent leaching of F ions. USE/ADVANTAGE - The process may be used to inhibit leaching of heavy metals or radioactive metals from waste tips in the mining, metallurgical or chemical industries. In an example, application of a technical fluorspar soln. (500mg/l F) to a mine spoil heap reduced the U leaching rate from 0.45 to 0 kg/day and the Fe leaching rate from 28 to 0 kg/day.