Hydrometallurgy and Bio‐crystallization of Metals by Microorganisms

Bacterial leaching of metal sulfide ores leads to the extraction of base-metals, and is finding increasing commercial application as bioleaching technology. This chapter provides a brief introduction to the physicochemical aspects of bioleaching processes. The principal mechanisms of sulfide minerals bioleaching are discussed. This chapter presents the current status of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, arsenopyrite, and uranium minerals bioleaching. The engineering aspects are considered in the case of biotreatments in gold refractory ores. The bioleaching of sulfide minerals yields the generation of metal ions acid-rich solutions (AMD). The heavy metals from the AMD solution can be removed via bioprecipitation using sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). The BioSulphide® process is analyzed.