Biomining enhancement method

Abstract

A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores using sulfurous acid for microbial leaching of heavy metals into solution for subsequent removal via electro winning, ion exchange, or precipitation with alkaline and nutrient reagents for filtration removal.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores comprising:
 a. applying sufficient sulfurous acid, bisulfites/sulfites, and free SO 2  to the metal sulfide ores to provide electron donors and adjust the pH to that required for microbial leaching of the metal sulfide ores to release metal ions into solution, and   b. removing the metal ions from solution using electrolysis, ion exchange, and electro winning methods to produce metals.   
     
     
         2 . A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores according to  claim 1 , including adding oxidizing agents to expedite microbial leaching. 
     
     
         3 . A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores according to  claim 1 , including adding ferric ions to the sulfurous acid solution to feed iron-oxidizing bacterium  Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.    
     
     
         4 . A biomining method for metal sulfide ores according to  claim 1 , including adding microorganisms to the sulfurous acid solution, which reduce metal sulfide ores to release metal ions into solution. 
     
     
         5 . A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores comprising:
 a. applying sufficient sulfurous acid, bisulfites/sulfites, and free SO 2  to the metal sulfide ores to provide electron donors and adjust the pH required for microbial leaching of metal sulfide ores to release metal ions into solution,   c. adding sufficient complexing agents to the water to precipitate heavy metals for separation, and   d. removing the metal ions from solution using electrolysis to produce metals.   
     
     
         6 . A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores according to  claim 5 , including filtering the heavy metal precipitates from the water, leaving metal free filtrate with nutrients to aid plants, bacteria, and other photo biomass in phytoremediation, phytoextraction, and phytostabilization. 
     
     
         7 . A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores according to  claim 5 , including re-acidifying the metal free filtrate with more sulfurous acid to re-apply to the metal sulfide ores to provide electron donors and adjust the pH required for microbial reduction of the metal sulfide ores to release metal ions into solution. 
     
     
         8 . A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores according to  claim 5 , wherein the complexing agent is lime. 
     
     
         9 . A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores according to  claim 5 , wherein the complexing agents are ammonium hydroxide and phosphate solutions. 
     
     
         10 . A biomining enhancement method for metal sulfide ores according to  claim 5 , wherein the pH for precipitating heavy metal hydroxides is sequentially adjusted for sequential precipitation and filtration of different heavy metal hydroxides