GUERRERO, GLENN AJI D.

200912415

Chemoorganotrophic Bioleaching of Olivine for Nickel Recovery
Yi Wai Chiang, Rafael M. Santos, Aldo Van Audenaerde, Annick Monballiu, Tom Van Gerven,
and Boudewijin Messchaert
The title already informs the reader of what the study will be tackling. Its about nickel
recovery from olivine using chemoorganotrophic bioleaching. From this it is inferred that the
research will be dealing with microorganisms, hence chemoorganotrophic.
Going to the abstract, it did not directly describe the problem, however, the methods,
results and conclusions were stated. It is detailed enough to provide the readers an insight to
what can be expected at the same time piques the curiosity of as to what the study is all about
in complete detail.
The purpose of the study was indicated in the second paragraph of the introduction that
is to provide an alternative route to the traditional extraction route which is the application of
biohydrometallurgy, in which microorganisms act as renewable chemical producers: of
substances that deteriorate and dissolve minerals, thereby liberating the immobilized metals
into solution (leachate). Biogenic substances produced include not only organic acids, but also
chelates, mineral acids and for certain bacteria, ammonia or amines. The 3 main mechanisms
that can act in the solubilisation of metals are: acidolysis, complexolysis, and redoxolysis.
Furthermore, the actual problem is stated: how to utilize lower grade ores and a process
that is economical, something the traditional extraction route failed to address (due to higher
processing cost).
Results of several studies pertaining to bioleaching but on a different material (ore in
this case) were included to provide more insight and for the purpose of comparison. The scope
and limits of the study were also set by indicating the microorganisms to be used, the type of
ore and what metallic compounds will be extracted from the ore.
Since this study aims to provide an alternative extraction route and lower processing
cost, it could open up advances in the use of microorganisms to extract metallic compounds
from different grade of ores, since there is already a depletion of accessible high-grade ores
particularly,high-grade sulfidic ores.
No literature review were provided in the journal.
From the methodology (or experimental section in the journal), the authors have
addressed all section in the research. The material specifications, storage, the preparation of
the solutions. Also, the design is most appropriate one to answer the research question
because given the numerous studies that provides results for the authors to countercheck
whether theirs would adhere to the experimentally obtained data from past researches tackling
bioleaching. The samples appear to be consistent since everything was prepared the same way.
Inoculation, incubation, flasks and parameters to which the samples are exposed are similar.
Instruments to be used are also reported. As for their sustainability, none was specified.
As far as their research goes, the instrument is accurate.
Data collection procedures were very detailed and can be found on section 2.2
Bioleaching Methodology.

Results were portrayed extensively with the aid of graphs to show difference between
the microorganisms used in the study. It is necessary because comparison is needed to show
which among the microorganisms provide better performance (higher recovery) given methods
of bioleaching: microbially-assisted leaching or biogenic substance leaching; bioleaching of
fresh and carbonated olivine by various fungi; using ultrasound-assisted fungal bioleaching and
leaching selectivity.

Because of the extent of the method used, the data appears to be sufficient, valid and
reliable. It was also compared to the findings of previous works and had arrived at the same
conclusions. The results showed Aspergillus niger is best among the microorganisms chosen.
More metals a releached from fresh olivine and that sonication enhanced the selectivity of A.
niger for nickel over iron to a value of 3.5.

Since the study was focused on nickel recovery using bioleaching, I would say this would
open up doors to the use of this process (bioleaching) in other areas for extraction purposes
not only in ores but in other materials as well. Strength and weaknesses are also stated to
ensure unbiased discussion of results which were compared to previous studies. The
weaknesses were attributed to its possible causes and the authors specified possible solutions
to overcome this problem for future researches.

There was no review of literature provided, however, the findings were consistent to
the findings of previous studies since the researches are interrelated and only differs in the
method and type of ore used. A lot of this comparison can be seen on section 3. Results and
Discussion.

Conclusion were drawn and is located on the last paragraph of section 4. Conclusion.
The findings of this study represent a first step in verifying that olivine can potentially become
a commercially exploitable source of nickel in the future. It has also been demonstrated that
chemoorganotrophic bioleaching can represent an alternative approach to more conventional
chemolithotrophic bioleaching, especially when considering bioleaching of non-sulifidc ores
when looking to avoid the formation of environmentally hazardous sulphuric acid. The
conclusion sticks to the objective of the research and addresses the problem/issues stated. It is
therefore appropriate.