BACTERIAL OXIDATION IN UPGRADING SULFIDIC ORES AND COALS

摘要

Finely ground impure metal sulfides or pyritic ores, particularly coals, are upgraded by surface oxidation of the metal sulfide or pyritic material by selected bacteria to render the surface hydrophilic, followed by a particle separation step from an aqueous slurry e.g. selective agglomeration or flotation. A suitable bacteria is selected from the Thiobacillus-Ferrobacillus group.