Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wei Chen, Shenghua Yin, I. M. S. K. Ilankoon
Summary: This study investigated the dynamics of bacterial community and copper leaching during low-grade copper sulphide bioleaching with forced aeration. The results showed that appropriate aeration improved bacterial concentrations and leaching efficiencies. Attached bacteria played a significant role in the early stages of bioleaching, while free bacteria dominated the later stages due to the formation of a passivation layer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINERALS METALLURGY AND MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Ailton Guilherme Rissoni Toledo, Denise Bevilaqua, Sandeep Panda, Ata Akcil
Summary: This article explores potential solutions for hydrometallurgical processes using semiconductor electrochemistry, which has received limited attention in the scientific community. Hydrometallurgy offers sustainable methods for obtaining metallic resources through dissolution, including low-grade ores and waste recycling. Certain minerals of interest are semiconductors, and understanding their behavior in contact with an electrolyte solution is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and scalability of hydrometallurgy. The article also proposes new models and cost-effective strategies for ore solubilization from the perspective of semiconductor electrochemistry.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Neha Sharma, Timothy C. Eisele
Summary: Bioleaching has shown potential for efficient manganese extraction, with the use of mixed bacterial strains collected from natural anaerobic environments. The study demonstrated high concentrations of dissolved manganese without the addition of mineral acids.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Vishal Kumar Singh, Suvendu Manna, Jayanta Kumar Biswas, Arivalagan Pugazhendhi
Summary: This review discusses the pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and biological methods for recovering heavy metals from jarosite waste and compares them based on their techno-economic differences. The study shows that these methods have their own benefits and drawbacks, including overall yield, economic and technical constraints, and the need for multiple processes to mobilize multiple metal ions from jarosite. Additionally, the review links the residual metal extraction processes from jarosite waste to the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing a better approach to sustainable development.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Wei Chen, Shenghua Yin, Leiming Wang, Ming Zhang
Summary: Low-grade copper sulfide ores generated by mining activities can cause resource waste and environmental pollution. This study investigates the bioleaching of low-grade ores by re-inoculating bacteria at different intervals. The results show that re-inoculation at both day 1 and day 4 leads to the highest bacteria concentration, improved attached bacteria proportion, and copper recovery. The distribution of dissolved oxygen is also more uniform in samples with re-inoculated bacteria. 16S rDNA analysis reveals that the bacteria community structure is significantly influenced by the re-inoculation intervals. The dominant species, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, accounts for 97.653% when an appropriate interval is applied.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE METALLURGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Loredana Brinza, Imad Ahmed, Carmen-Madalina Cismasiu, Ioan Ardelean, Iuliana Gabriela Breaban, Florica Doroftei, Konstantin Ignatyev, Cristina Moisescu, Mariana Neamtu
Summary: Auriferous sulphide ores containing micro-fine gold and silver particles pose extraction challenges, with bioleaching as an environmentally friendly alternative. Experimental findings suggest that iron-oxidizing bacteria can facilitate the release of gold and silver. Utilizing synchrotron-based micro-analysis offers insights into the sequestration and speciation of noble metals.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Biljana S. Maluckov
Summary: Microorganisms play a crucial role in geological transformations, facilitating the mobility of metals and formation of new minerals for practical applications in metal recovery, including the formation of nanogold and nanogold compounds.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Wen Zhong, Shuiping Zhong, Ding Tang, Xiaopeng Chi, Wei Weng
Summary: Investigations were conducted to understand the distribution of microcracks and bioleaching behaviors of particles in order to improve bioleaching efficiency. The results showed that high-pressure grinding roll (HPGR) was the most effective method for obtaining particles with abundant and wider microcracks. The highest bioleaching efficiency for copper extraction was achieved when the HPGR pressure was fixed at 4 MPa. The findings suggest that microcracks play a crucial role in enhancing the bioleaching process.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kun Zhao, Feng Gao, Qunying Yang
Summary: This article reviews the latest developments in nickel metallurgy, including the main methods and emerging methods for extracting nickel from nickel sulfide ores. Biological metallurgy and ion exchange are considered the most promising technologies, providing new ideas and innovations.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE METALLURGY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rikke Linssen, Thomas Slinkert, Cees J. N. Buisman, Johannes B. M. Klok, Annemiek ter Heijne
Summary: Recent discoveries have demonstrated that sulphide oxidising bacteria (SOB) from modern desulphurisation plants can spatially separate sulphide removal and oxygen reduction. However, the underlying mechanisms for electron shuttling are still unknown. This study investigated the anaerobic sulphide removal process of SOB through batch experiments and mathematical models, revealing the importance of both biological activity and chemical processes in sulphide removal.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Md. Anik Hasan, Rumana Hossain, Veena Sahajwalla
Summary: Effective management and recycling of waste containing critical metals are essential for minimizing environmental impacts and promoting sustainable development. This paper provides valuable insights into the sources of lithium and zinc waste, as well as the various treatment and recovery methods available. The socio-economic aspects and environmental implications are also discussed.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Shichao Yu, Rui Liao, Baojun Yang, Chaojun Fang, Zhentang Wang, Yuling Liu, Baiqiang Wu, Jun Wang, Guanzhou Qiu
Summary: Due to the rapid depletion of global mineral resources, there is a strong interest in technologies suited for mining and processing of low-grade ores. This paper reviews the current status of main commercial biomining operations worldwide, summarizes factors affecting chalcocite dissolution in chemical leaching and bioleaching, and discusses two on-site chalcocite heap leaching practices. Furthermore, the challenges and innovations for the future development of chalcocite hydrometallurgy are presented.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Rory A. Cameron, Rolando Lastra, Yves Thibault, Lucie Morin, W. Douglas Gould
Summary: This study presents the development of a stirred-tank bioleaching process by CanmetMINING for recovering nickel and cobalt from pyrrhotite-rich tailings. The experiments showed high efficiency and robustness of the process, offering a significant potential for resource recovery and cost savings.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Paulo Lopez, Miguel Araos, Christopher Leonardi, Italo Onederra
Summary: Copper is crucial for transitioning to a low-carbon economy and energy-efficient technologies. This paper presents results from controlled blasting tests that show how stress-induced damage can increase fluid penetration depth in copper ore samples, potentially improving the efficiency of copper extraction.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Michaela Sudova, Maria Kanuchova, Martin Sisol, Lubica Kozakova, Michal Marcin, Tomas Holub
Summary: This article focuses on the alkaline leaching of gold-bearing tetrahedrite concentrate using a solution containing sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide. This selective leaching process may introduce heavy and waste metals into the solution, potentially impacting the physical properties and quality of the desired product and causing environmental toxicity. Additionally, the leaching process was observed to increase the gold content in the solid phase, allowing for recovery and extraction of the precious metal. Sodium sulfide effectively acts on sulfide minerals while sodium hydroxide prevents sulfur hydrolysis, which slows down the leaching process. The leaching kinetics were studied over a five-hour duration and the leaching efficiency was evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry using volume sampling at specific time intervals. X-ray photoelectron analysis spectrometry was utilized to analyze the solid residue and determine the percentage of solids content, as well as deduce the leached amount of metals for each sample.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Benjamin De Castro, Mostafa Benzaazoua, Soumali Roychowdhury, Aurelie Chopard, Francis Quintal Lauzon, Benoit Plante
Summary: This study proposes an innovative method using deep learning algorithm and reflected light optical imaging to automatically detect all particles and minerals in acrylic resin polished sections. The experimental results show that this method can accurately detect all mineral particles, including transparent minerals, under reflected light optical microscopy, and provide unbiased mineralogical quantification.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qiushi Song, Xinyu Du, Changlu Shan, Hongwei Xie, Zhiqiang Ning, Kai Yu
Summary: This study investigated the effect of magnetic stirring on the microstructure of Co deposits during electrowinning in a chloride solution. It was found that magnetic stirring effectively reduced the negative influence of H2 bubbles on the structure of Co deposits and changed their nucleation and growth behavior, resulting in the preparation of high-quality columnar Co crystals.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Tao Ge, Xiaowei Zhou, Liang Xu, Yan Sun, Cheng Yang, Yongpan Tian, Zhuo Zhao
Summary: In this study, the extraction performance and complexation mechanism of p-di-ethyl-amino-methylthiacalix[4]arene (L) towards Pt(IV) were investigated. The results indicated that L had excellent complexation ability towards Pt(IV) and could selectively extract it from a solution containing multiple competing ions.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yuan Li, Dirk van Zyl
Summary: This paper presents a modified Kynch's approach to explain the hindered settling behavior of suspensions impacted by segregation. The experimental data and predicted results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yi Fang, Aurora Robledo-Cabrera, Changsheng Peng, Shan Huang, Qi Xiao, Alejandro Lopez-Valdivieso
Summary: With the assistance of mechanical ball milling, the partially oxidized micro-sponge iron (micro-Fe0@Fe2O3) achieves significantly improved removal of Cr(VI) across a broad pH range. Mechanical force eliminates the surface oxide layer and exposes the Fe0 core, leading to sustained reduction of Cr(VI). The efficiency of micro-Fe0@Fe2O3 is strongly influenced by dissolved oxygen, with higher DO resulting in the generation of stable reductant Fe(II) under acidic conditions, while DO consumption hinders the reduction of Cr(VI) under alkaline conditions due to increased pH. Parameters of ball milling operation, especially rotation speed, have a significant impact on the removal of Cr(VI).
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Alton F. Grabsch, Phillip D. Fawell, Michael G. Davies
Summary: High molecular weight partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide (PHPA) is commonly used in mineral exploration drilling to increase fluid viscosity and help maintain the suspension of fine particles. However, clarifying these suspensions can be difficult, and previous studies have found that anionic flocculants are ineffective. This study confirmed that nonionic flocculants can successfully aggregate the particles, indicating that the charged tails of adsorbed PHPA prevent anionic flocculants from accessing the particle surfaces.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
J. S. Guiral-Vega, L. Perez-Barnuevo, J. Bouchard, A. Ure, E. Poulin, C. Du Breuil
Summary: This paper introduces an approach that combines particle properties and process modeling to describe the behavior of iron ore in a laboratory-scale drum-type magnetic separator. Early information on iron ore processing behavior can be obtained through laboratory testing, automated mineralogy analysis, and process modeling.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Sayed Janishar Anzoom, Ghislain Bournival, Seher Ata
Summary: This review discusses the benefits and challenges of coarse particle flotation, as well as recent developments in improving the process. Coarse particle flotation has various applications and offers advantages in technical, economic, and sustainability aspects. However, it also faces challenges such as particle detachment, transfer between phases, and persistence in the froth phase. Technological advancements, such as fluidized-bed flotation and processes enhancing bubble-particle attachment, have shown promising results in efficiently recovering larger particles.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yimei Xiao, Jinchan Feng, Bingqiao Yang, Huihua Luo, Fang Zhou
Summary: In this study, the use of fulvic acid as a depressant for the flotation separation of chalcopyrite from arsenopyrite was investigated. It was found that fulvic acid strongly depressed arsenopyrite while having little influence on chalcopyrite flotation. The addition of calcium hypochlorite facilitated the adsorption of fulvic acid on arsenopyrite surface.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Bo Hao, Minqiang Fan
Summary: Particle-bubble attachment is crucial in coal and mineral flotation processes. In this study, the attachment process of low-rank coal particles to the bubble surface was simulated, revealing the important role of water film rupture in particle attachment.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Shuwei Wu, Shuai Wang, Guoqiang Wang, Longfei Fan, Jianbo Guo, Zhengbin Liu, Haoyan Zhang, Wei Guan, Yukuan Wang, Yewei Wu
Summary: This study analyzes the motion mode of eccentric roller crushers and proposes a calculation method for productivity. Through laboratory experiments, the results indicate that the proposed method can effectively estimate the productivity of eccentric roll crushers.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hanna Miettinen, Malin Bomberg, Ozlem Bicak, Zafir Ekmekci, Paivi Kinnunen
Summary: Mineral processing requires large amounts of water, and reducing water consumption through recirculation and closing water loops is important. However, this can lead to the accumulation of contaminants in the process water, which can negatively affect the process performance. In this study, the impact of microorganisms on flotation performance was investigated, and ion exchange was evaluated for removing dissolved sulfur species and microorganisms from water. The results showed that adding microorganisms had a positive effect on flotation selectivity, especially for nickel. Different water types, process water and final tailings water, behaved slightly differently. Ion exchange proved to be effective in removing sulfur species and microorganisms, and dissolved air flotation was a successful pretreatment for ion exchange in removing microorganisms.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Canneng Chen, Song Zhang, Quanjun Liu, Luzheng Chen, Yongjun Xian, Yijie Wang
Summary: This study introduces the use of ultrasonic pretreatment to enhance the flotation separation of elemental sulfur and silver-bearing lead minerals from ultrafine residue. The results show that ultrasonic pretreatment effectively liberates associated sulfur and improves the separation of sulfur and silver-bearing lead minerals. Under optimized conditions, ultrasonic pretreatment significantly improves the recovery and grade of sulfur in the concentrate, as well as the recovery of lead and silver in the tailings.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Genzhuang Li, Fisher Wang, Bern Klein, Michael Deal, Aaron Wright, Hector Mezquita
Summary: This paper presents a stress-based approach for predicting and improving large-scale HIG mill performance through experimental testing and model calibration.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Runpeng Liao, Shuming Wen, Jian Liu, Shaojun Bai, Qicheng Feng
Summary: This study demonstrates that the use of a DDA/DDTC mixed collector system can significantly improve the flotation performance of smithsonite. The synergistic effect between DDA and DDTC is confirmed, and the mixed collector system contributes to a decrease in solution surface tension. The use of FT-IR and XPS confirms the simultaneous physisorption and chemisorption of DDA and DDTC on the smithsonite surface, and contact angle measurements show that the mixed collector effectively enhances the hydrophobicity of smithsonite. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the multilayer adsorption of DDTC and DDA on the smithsonite surface, with DDTC promoting the adsorption of DDA.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)