Study of the biooxidation of gold refractory concentrates with high arsenic content

The search and application of "friendly" technologies with the environment is today a priority, and even more so if they are productive sectors such as mining that has been generating for some years in our country. This research will analyze the possibility of applying the biooxidation process in refractory minerals that are also characterized by high levels of arsenic, due to its mineralogical structure. It is proposed as a general objective: establishing the feasibility of application of biooxidation when high levels of arsenic in the mineral. A mixed crop of Mircoorganisms (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and leptospirillum ferrooxidans) will be used in a refractory concentrate from the Zaruma area. There will be a first phase of adaptation of microorganisms to progressive arsenic concentrations, in synthetic medium (9K): Subsequently when you have the adapted crop, it will be passed to mineral tests progressively increasing the pulp density until inhibition is detected in the growth of microorganisms due to high substrate concentration. With the most appropriate concentration of mineral (pulp density) three tests will be carried out to establish growth kinetic as well as copper solubilization kinetics and the percentages of arsenic dissolved to the environment. This will allow evaluating the expected productivity and approximate efficiency of the process. Then, tests will be carried out in an agitated tank to determine the behavior of the process in this operation modality and its possibilities of scaling at the pilot level. With the results, it will be known what is the feasibility of applying this technology in the different mining areas of the country.

8th RESEARCH PROJECT COMPETITION AND 3rd RESEARCH PROGRAM COMPETITION