BIOLEACHING OF SULPHIDE MINERALS

摘要

A method of bioleaching a slurry containing sulphide minerals which includes the step of supplying a feed gas containing in excess of 21% oxygen by volume, to the slurry, increases the rate of oxygen transfer from the gas to the liquid phase. Combined with the use of high temperatures between 50 .degree.C and 100 .degree.C and thermophile microorganisms the rate of sulphide mineral leaching is greatly enhanced.