Background & Objectives: Since biological methods for metal extraction, such as bioleaching, are environmental friendly, there are high demands to be replaced with the chemical and physical methods. The aim of this study was to extract gold from Muteh sulfide ore by
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Background & Objectives: Since biological methods for metal extraction, such as bioleaching, are environmental friendly, there are high demands to be replaced with the chemical and physical methods. The aim of this study was to extract gold from Muteh sulfide ore by two microbial phases.
Materials & Methods: Isolation of iron oxidizing bacteria was performed by adding mineral samples into 9k medium. At the first phase of the mineral bioleaching process, the ores were cut into different diameters, and after adding the rocks to the standard medium (1%), they were assessed after 7 days by x-ray diffraction method to study the existence of sulfide minerals. The cyanide producer bacteria were isolated by growing into TSA solid medium. In the second phase, the materials obtained from first phase were exposed to cyanogen bacteria, and the sediments were investigated by ICP.
Results: Based on the results, the isolated bacteria from Sarcheshmeh mining were able to oxidize strongly ferrous and to remove pyrite from ore after 7 days. In the second phase, the isolated bacteria from Tonekabon arable soil could remove gold of (0.023 mg/l). The best range of Au recovery was produced in pH 7.
Conclusion: The isolated bacteria in this study were able to separate Au in two phases of microbial process, consisting of sulfide mineralization and recovery from aqueous form by cyanide bacteria.
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