ANAEROBIC METAL REFINING MICROORGANISM AGENT, AND METHOD FOR REFINING VALUABLE METALS USING THE SAME

摘要

PURPOSE: An anaerobic metal refining microorganism agent is provided which elutes and refines the valuable metals from low grade ore, and a method for biologically refining valuable metals using the anaerobic metal refining microorganism agent is provided. CONSTITUTION: The method for obtaining anaerobic metal refining microorganisms using organic materials as an electron donor and insoluble metals in the ore as an electron acceptor comprises the processes of (i) obtaining concentrated cultured bacteria by culturing the organic material added ore in an anaerobic atmosphere after adding organic materials to ore such as clay or manganese nodule; (ii) subculturing the concentrated cultured bacteria in an anaerobic atmosphere. The method for biologically refining metals using the anaerobic metal refining microorganism agent comprises the processes of (i) crushing ore to an appropriate size; (ii) eluting insoluble metals in ore in a water soluble metal form using organic materials of the microorganism as an electron donor and insoluble metals in the ore as an electron acceptor, and removing manganese matt layers or weakening ore mat structure at the same time after culturing the materials in an anaerobic atmosphere by supplying carbon source, nutrient and anaerobic metal refining microorganisms or agent to a liquid slurry in which the crushed ore is mixed with water; (iii) a solid-liquid separation process of separating a leached solution and leached residues from a cultured solution passing through the biological refining process; and (iv) separating valuable metals from the leached solution using solvent extraction or ion exchange resin.