Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Two-Step Oxidation of Refractory Gold Concentrates with Different Microbial Communities

  • Wang, Guo-hua (School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University) ;
  • Xie, Jian-ping (School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University) ;
  • Li, Shou-peng (School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University) ;
  • Guo, Yu-jie (School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University) ;
  • Pan, Ying (School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University) ;
  • Wu, Haiyan (School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University) ;
  • Liu, Xin-xing (School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University)
  • Received : 2015.11.12
  • Accepted : 2016.07.27
  • Published : 2016.11.28
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Abstract

Bio-oxidation is an effective technology for treatment of refractory gold concentrates. However, the unsatisfactory oxidation rate and long residence time, which cause a lower cyanide leaching rate and gold recovery, are key factors that restrict the application of traditional bio-oxidation technology. In this study, the oxidation rate of refractory gold concentrates and the adaption of microorganisms were analyzed to evaluate a newly developed two-step pretreatment process, which includes a high temperature chemical oxidation step and a subsequent bio-oxidation step. The oxidation rate and recovery rate of gold were improved significantly after the two-step process. The results showed that the highest oxidation rate of sulfide sulfur could reach to 99.01 % with an extreme thermophile microbial community when the pulp density was 5%. Accordingly, the recovery rate of gold was elevated to 92.51%. Meanwhile, the results revealed that moderate thermophiles performed better than acidophilic mesophiles and extreme thermophiles, whose oxidation rates declined drastically when the pulp density was increased to 10% and 15%. The oxidation rates of sulfide sulfur with moderate thermophiles were 93.94% and 65.73% when the pulp density was increased to 10% and 15%, respectively. All these results indicated that the two-step pretreatment increased the oxidation rate of refractory gold concentrates and is a potential technology to pretreat the refractory sample. Meanwhile, owing to the sensitivity of the microbial community under different pulp density levels, the optimization of microbial community in bio-oxidation is necessary in industry.

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References

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