Recovery of molybdenum from molybdenum bearing sulfide materials by bioleaching in the presence of iron
US8268037B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 2007 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/20
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of recovering molybdenum from a molybdenum bearing sulfide material. The material is contacted with a leaching solution in the presence of iron compounds and mesophilic or thermophilic iron oxidizing microorganisms and subsequently, a leaching process is performed by controlling the molar ratio of dissolved ferric iron to dissolved molybdenum. Preferably, a high amount and molar excess of dissolved iron is used. The presence of high concentrations of ferric iron in bioleach solutions allows iron-oxidizing microorganisms to grow and oxidize iron and bioleach molybdenite at dissolved Mo concentrations as high as 4.4 g/L. Organic metabolites were not required for protecting cells from Mo toxicity. Maximum dissolution rates depend on reactor configuration, with agglomerated material simulating heap leaching of almost 1% Mo/day, but up to 10.2% Mo/day in suspension/stirred reactor configurations, with rate highly dependent on temperature within the range of 25° C. to 40° C. The ultimate extent of Mo removal from the molybdenum bearing sulfide material is 89%. Finally, molybdenum is recovered from a leach residue of the leaching process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.