Claims
- 1. A process for recovering heavy metals from sulfide ore having indigenous microorganisms comprising the steps of (a) contacting said ore in the presence of oxygen, with an aqueous nutrient supplement comprising carbohydrates and proteins wherein there is more carbohydrate than protein, and wherein said supplement, when applied to said sulfide ore, supports the growth of said indigenous microorganisms, (b) incubating said ore with said supplement for a period of time sufficient to solubilize said heavy metals, (c) collecting said solubilized ore, and (d) treating said solubilized ore to extract said heavy metals.
- 2. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said nutrient supplement comprises protein, carbohydrates, sulfur, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, phosphorous and magnesium.
- 3. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said nutrient supplement is selected from the groups consisting of potato extract growth medium and corn extract growth medium.
- 4. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said nutrient supplement is potato extract growth medium comprising:
- ______________________________________Ingredient Concentration Range (%)______________________________________Protein 2.0-3.0Carbohydrate 18-22Niacin 0.0012-0.0010Thiamine 0.00005-0.00003Riboflavin 0.00002-0.00006Phosphorous 0.02-0.08Potassium 0.2-0.6Magnesium 0.02-0.04Sulfur 0.01-0.03.______________________________________
- 5. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said potato extract growth medium comprises:
- ______________________________________Ingredient Approximate Concentration (%)______________________________________Protein 2.5Carbohydrate 20.3Niacin 0.0015Thiamine 0.0001Riboflavin 0.00004Phosphorous 0.05Potassium 0.41Magnesium 0.03Sulfur 0.02.______________________________________
- 6. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said nutrient supplement is potato extract growth medium having the following composition:
- ______________________________________Ingredient Concentration Range %______________________________________Water 69-85Ash 0.08-1.2Protein 2.0-3.0Fat 0.08-0.13Fiber 0.2-0.6Carbohydrate 18-22Total Carbon 8-10Starch 16-20Glucose 0.4-0.6Vitamin A traceAscorbic Acid 0.01-0.03Niacin 0.0012-0.0018Thiamine 0.00005-0.0003Riboflavin 0.00002-0.00006Iron 0.01-0.0005Phosphorus 0.02-0.08Potassium 0.2-0.6Sodium 0.01-0.03Chlorine 0.05-0.1Copper 0.0002-0.0006Magnesium 0.02-0.04Manganese 0.0007-0.002Calcium 0.05-0.02Sulfur 0.01-0.03.______________________________________
- 7. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said potato extract growth medium has the following composition:
- ______________________________________Ingredient Composition______________________________________Water 77Ash 1Protein 2.5Fat 0.1Fiber 0.4Carbohydrate 20.3Total Carbon 9Starch 18Glucose 0.5Vitamin A traceAscorbic Acid 200 mg/kg (0.02%)Niacin 15 mg/kg (0.0015%)Thiamine 1.0 mg/kg (0.0001%)Riboflavin 0.4 mg/kg (0.00004%)Iron 0.001Phosphorus 0.05Potassium 0.41Sodium 0.02Chlorine 0.07Copper 4.1 mg/kg (0.00041%)Magnesium 0.03Manganese 9.6 mg/kg (0.00096%)Calcium 0.01Sulfur 0.02.______________________________________
- 8. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said nutrient supplement is corn extract growth medium comprising:
- ______________________________________Ingredient Range of Concentration (%)______________________________________Protein 10.9-13.3Carbohydrate 76.0-92.8Niacin 0.01-0.05Thiamine 0.00027-0.00033Riboflavin 0.0012-0.0014Phosphorous 0.2-0.4Sulfur 0.08-0.13Potassium 0.2-0.6Magnesium 0.116-0.144.______________________________________
- 9. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said corn extract growth medium comprises:
- ______________________________________Ingredient Approximate Concentration (%)______________________________________Protein 12.1Carbohydrate 84.4Niacin 0.03Thiamine 0.0003Riboflavin 0.0013Phosphorous 0.34Sulfur 0.1Potassium 0.4Magnesium 0.13.______________________________________
- 10. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said nutrient supplement is corn extract growth medium having the following composition:
- ______________________________________Ingredient Range of Concentration (%)______________________________________Ash 1.46-1.74Fiber 2.4-3.0Protein 10.9-13.3Fat 4.9-5.9Carbohydrate 76.0-92.8Vitamin A (IU) 282-338Ascorbic acid 0.01-0.03Niacin 0.01-0.05Thiamine 0.00027-0.00033Riboflavin 0.0012-0.0014Iron 0.0009-0.0013Magnesium 0.116-0.144Phosphorous 0.2-0.4Sulfur 0.08-0.13Potassium 0.2-0.6Calcium 0.01-0.03Choline 0.5-0.7Pantothenic acid 0.0062-0.0078Pyridoxine 0.0079-0.01Arginine 0.5-0.7Cystine 0.7-0.2Glycine 0.4-0.6Histidine 0.1-0.3Isoleucine 0.45-0.55Leucine 1.17-1.43Lysine 0.15-0.25Methionine 0.1-0.3Phenylalanine 0.5-0.7Threonine 0.4-0.6Tryptophan 0.06-0.22Valine 0.46-0.56.______________________________________
- 11. The process, according to claim 1, wherein said corn extract growth medium has the following composition:
- ______________________________________Ingredient Aproximate Concentration %______________________________________Ash 1.6Fiber 2.7Protein 12.1Fat 5.4Carbohydrate 84.4Vitamin A 310.0 (IU)Ascorbic acid 0.02Niacin 0.03Thiamine 0.0003Riboflavin 0.0013Iron 0.001Magnesium 0.13Phosphorous 0.34Sulfur 0.1Potassium 0.4Calcium 0.02Choline 0.6Pantothenic acid 0.007Pyridoxine 0.009Arginine 0.6Cystine 0.1Glycine 0.5Histidine 0.2Isoleucine 0.5Leucine 1.3Lysine 0.2Methionine 0.2Phenylalanine 0.6Threonine 0.5Tryptophan 0.1Valine 0.5.______________________________________
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/127,394, filed on Sep. 27, 1993; which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/023,990, filed Feb. 26, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,329; which a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 07/828,056, filed January 30, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,327; which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/682,491, filed on Apr. 9, 1991, now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/660,312, filed Feb. 22, 1991, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (8)
Entry |
Colmer, A. R., M. E. Hinkle (1947) "The Role of Microorganisms in Acid Mine Drainage: A Preliminary Report" Science 106:253-256. |
Huber, H., K. O. Stetter (1989) "Thiobacillus prosperus sp. nov., represents a new group of halotolerant metal-mobilizing bacteria isolated from a marine geothermal field": Archives of Microbiology 151:479-485. |
Huber, H., K. O. Stetter (1990) "Thiobacillus cuprinus sp. nov., a Novel Facultatively Organotrophic Metal-Mobilizing Bacterium" Applied and Environmental Microbiology 56(2):315-322. |
Manchee, R. (1979) "Microbial Mining" TIBS, Apr. 1979:77-80. |
Puhakka, J., O. H. Tuovinen (1987) "Effect of organic compounds on the microbiological leaching of a complex sulphide ore material" MIRCEN Journal of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 3:429-436. |
Stevens, C. J. et al. (1986) "Acetylene Reduction (Nitrogen Fixation) by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans" Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry 8:351-359. |
Torma, A. E. et al. (1976) "Effects of Surface Active Agents on the Oxidation of Chalcopyrite by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans" Hydrometallurgy 1:301-309. |
Tuttle, J. H., P. R. Dugan (1976) "Inhibition of growth, iron, and sulfur oxidation in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans by simple organic compounds" Canadian Journal of Microbiology 22:719-730. |
Continuation in Parts (5)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
127394 |
Sep 1993 |
|
Parent |
23990 |
Feb 1993 |
|
Parent |
828056 |
Jan 1992 |
|
Parent |
682491 |
Apr 1991 |
|
Parent |
660312 |
Feb 1991 |
|