Bio-Mineral Processing: A Suitable Approach

Abstract

Bio-mineral processing is the generic term that describes the processing of metal containing ores,concentrator tailings, newly mined run-of-the-mine (ROM) material, and intermediate to highgrade ores using (micro-) biological technology. The application of bio catalyzed metal extraction has already been established for various metals in lab scale and the commercialization of processes for the extraction of the valuable gold, base metals like copper, zinc and cobalt from their high grade, sulfide ore bodies are over. For the lean grade ores and tailings, which are supposed to be the future resources, the processes are still in their infancy or confined in the laboratory scale. The potential of hetrotrophes for leaching/ beneficiation are yet to be fully exploited along with its major challenges in process design remain unresolved. The idea nurtured, expertise developed in the laboratories should find their way to get transformed in to feasible technology; then only the commercialization of such metal recovery processes from lean grade ores or overburdens will be shimmering as a reality.