CHZ 614E - Selected Topics in Bioprocessing of Minerals and Their Wastes

Course Objectives

Although the content changes by addressing the current practices specific to each period, basically recognizing and examining bioprocesses and their importance and evaluating them in the classroom environment.

Course Description

The mining and metallurgical treatment of ores are characterized by the formation of their various wastes. For instance, the beneficiation of ores yields formation tailings, whereas the roasting of sulfide concentrates produces smelter slag and dust. These wastes pose a problem not just because of their sheer volume and areal extent, but some of them affect local ecosystems. The activity of microorganisms in the waste can lead to significant environmental problems. The oxidation and dissolution of sulfide minerals containing iron and non-ferrous sulfides has been shown to contribute to the formation of acidic groundwater containing ferrous sulfate, heavy metals, and other toxic elements. The bio-oxidation of sulfide ores and high-grade concentrates for the recovery of gold, copper, nickel, cobalt, and other metals have a global spread. Biotechnology is the most promising approach for processing mine and metallurgical waste. New methods and processes for the utilization, recycling, or disposal of many types of mine and metallurgical wastes using (micro)organisms (bacteria, archaea, fungi, and their communities) as well as the bioleaching and bio-oxidation of sulfide wastes, dust and slag treatment, low-grade ores as a source for biohydrometallurgy, and acid mine drainage bioprocessing will be discussed in this lecture.