My Research Page: Hydro-Biohydro-metallurgy (Environment & Resource Management)
Biohydrometallurgical
Research at NML encompasses the strategy for Developing an Energy
Efficient and Environmentally Benign Technological Option for Extraction of
Metals from Low Grade & Complex Mineral and Waste Resources/Beneficiation
of ores/Bio-remediation/Bio-reclamation of Metals from Waste Streams. Research
into the role of microorganisms within the metallurgical system and their
response to extreme, variable environments is a relatively new field. Our
research in this area is focused on finding more robust bioleaching organisms
and understanding and monitoring the impact of bioleaching conditions and
mineralogy on microbial performance. Using this information, it is possible
to identify and promote those conditions within an ore bed that are conducive
to microbial growth and activity.
In the recent trends of depletion of high grade ore deposits, it thus becomes necessary to recover mineral resources from low grade ore deposits. However, no appropriate technology is still available for recovery of metals from low- grade deposits. It is an inherent worth of mineral industry to be a potent source of some microorganisms who could remediate their processing hindrances efficiently. This potential of microbes could only be realized globally and efforts are being made to use them for enhanced recovery of mineral resources from natural deposits. This implication of microbial activity in weathering, leaching and deposition of mineral ores could develop into a recent field of biotechnology - biohydrometallurgy. Bioleaching uses microbes to alter the physical or chemical properties of a metallic ore so that the metal can be extracted. The process is at present commercially used for recovery of copper and uranium from low-grade ores in several nations. Laboratory experiments could show that recovery of other metals such as Ni, Zn, Co, Sn, Cd, Mb, Pb, Sb, As and Se from their low-grade ores is also possible through bioleaching ex or in-situ. Besides bioleaching, some microbes are able to enrich metal system (biobeneficiation) or accumulate metals in their cells at concentrations higher than in the surrounding media (bioremediation).
Key Areas
Hydrometallurgy, Bioprocessing, Bioleaching, Biobeneficiation, Bioreclamation, Bio-remediation, Bioenergy
Major Completed Achievements
Future Envisaged Areas
In the recent trends of depletion of high grade ore deposits, it thus becomes necessary to recover mineral resources from low grade ore deposits. However, no appropriate technology is still available for recovery of metals from low- grade deposits. It is an inherent worth of mineral industry to be a potent source of some microorganisms who could remediate their processing hindrances efficiently. This potential of microbes could only be realized globally and efforts are being made to use them for enhanced recovery of mineral resources from natural deposits. This implication of microbial activity in weathering, leaching and deposition of mineral ores could develop into a recent field of biotechnology - biohydrometallurgy. Bioleaching uses microbes to alter the physical or chemical properties of a metallic ore so that the metal can be extracted. The process is at present commercially used for recovery of copper and uranium from low-grade ores in several nations. Laboratory experiments could show that recovery of other metals such as Ni, Zn, Co, Sn, Cd, Mb, Pb, Sb, As and Se from their low-grade ores is also possible through bioleaching ex or in-situ. Besides bioleaching, some microbes are able to enrich metal system (biobeneficiation) or accumulate metals in their cells at concentrations higher than in the surrounding media (bioremediation).
Key Areas
Hydrometallurgy, Bioprocessing, Bioleaching, Biobeneficiation, Bioreclamation, Bio-remediation, Bioenergy
Major Completed Achievements
- Bioleaching of copper from
copper converter slag
- Bioprocessing for treating Zn
tailings/ Complex/Lean ores
- Selective bio-dissolution of Ni
from copper concentrates
- Bio-leaching of Indian Ocean
nodules by different microbes
- Bio-leaching of copper from low
grade Indian ores
- Bio-leaching of uranium from
low grade Indian ores
- Bio-remediation of chromium from tannery effluents
- Bio-beneficiation of chromite ore
- Bioleaching of Zinc from concentrator dumps and tailings
- Biobeneficiation of Iron Ore slimes
- Bio-remediation of Chromite Mine Overburden Deposits
- Bio-Desulphurization of Coal
- Biosynthesis of inorganic nanomaterials from varied raw materials
Future Envisaged Areas
- Bioleaching for
extraction of metallic valuables from Smelter Wastes, Flue Dust, and Slag
- Bioreactor
Leaching of Rare Earths and PGM’s from Slime/Sludge,spent batteries
- Bioprocessing
of Gold Ores/Tailings
- Bioprocessing
of Low-Grade Manganese Ores
- Biobeneficiation
of Refractory Bauxite
- Biosorption of
heavy metals from effluents, sludges, etc.
- Bio-remediation of Acid Mine Drainage
- Bioenergy from
wastes/emissions
