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REKAYASA MINERAL & METALURGI Presented by:

FTTM ITB SITTI RATMI NURHAWAISYAH
2017 22116009
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There are two step processes for treating gold-bearing sulfidic concentrates
(Fomchenko et al., 2010)
1. Metals are leached by a microbially produced ferric sulftate
2. Ferric iron is regenerated, elemental sulfur is oxidized, and sulfides are terminally
oxidized.
Regeneration is conducted by different communities of acidophilic,
chemolithotrophic microorganisms.
The effects of organic nutrients on chalcopyrite bioleaching for different
temperatures (Li et al., 2011). The addition of yeast extract (YE) to the nutrient media
enhanced the bioleaching rate and the proportion of mixotrophic microorganisms
for temperatures from 40 to 60C, which are optimal for moderate thermophiles.
Goals: improving the biooxidation process of a refractory gold-bearing sulfidic
concentration and to determine the change in the composition of the microbial
population due to organic nutrients.
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Concentrate
A pyrite-arsenopyrite flotation concentrate as the gold bearing sulfidic concentrate.
 Ferric Leaching
4 Reactor Stirred Leached
760 rpm, T = 80 C
20% (w/w)
Generation of ferric iron Solid phase : loaded &
mixed with the
Mesophilic biologically generated
microbial 3+ containing solution
consortium
Biooxidation of Biooxidation After 7 h
3+
ferrous iron experiment
Ferric iron-
Liquid phase
containing Biooxidation Experiments
culture liquid
9 K media &
inoculum One-step
process
Biooxidation
Ferric leaching of the Lixiviant for experiments
concentrate Two-step
the ferric Moderately
termophilic microbial process
leaching consortium
Two reactors,
With liquid phase (salt solution of 9K
media without 2+ ), pulp density = 20%
w/v, RT = 10 days, T = 45C, pH = 1,3 to 1,6
 5 Characterization of the microbial
consortium

Isolation of pure microbial cultivation

Erlenmeyer flasks with 100 mL of
cultures & cultivation the media and 10 mL
conditions inoculums (rotary shaker, 170
rpm)
isolation

Characterization

Ferrous iron-oxidizing Sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms

microorganisms Media with the same mineral
Media 9K + ferrous sulfate composition (S= 10g/L)
= autotrophic =autotrophic
Same media + 0,02% YE = Same media + 0,02% YE =
mixotrophic mixotrophic

Identification of the
strains
 6 Analytical Methods

The enumeration of Amplival phase-

The mineralogical composition
contrast microscope
microorganisms = (Carl Zeiss) of the cocentrate & leached
residues = XRD (philips X-pert Pro
Diffractometer

pH-150MA pH
The values pH and Eh = meter-millivoltmeter

The gold content = fire assay

Concentrations of the The extent of gold recovery = carbon in-pulp

KFK-3 photometer
3+ & 2+ ions in the = 475 nm cyanidation
liq.phase = KFK-3
photometer

Inductively Coupled
The iron & arsenic contents = Plasma Atomic
Emission
ICP-AES Spectrometer
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Ferric leaching of the concentrate

 Biooxidation Experiments

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9 Cyanidaton Test
10 Microbial Consortium
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A two-step process with organic nutrients added during biooxidation may be

considered as an effective strategy for treating refractory pyrite-arsenopyrite
concentrates.

The addition of organic nutrients to the media during the biooxidation of the
sulfidic concentrate led to an increase in the biodiversity of the microorganisms
due to the activation of the mixotrophic organisms (bacteria Sb.
thermosulfidooxidans and archaea Acidiplasma sp.) and autotrophic bacterium
At. caldus
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