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The Biological
Treatment Processes Laboratory is dedicated to the examination of the chemical
and biological fate and treatment of metals found in aquatic and subsurface
environments and in engineered treatment and manufacturing systems. The
purposes are to utilize biotechnology for metal recovery, as well as
remediation of soil and groundwater.
Bioleaching is a process, whereby metals are leached from ore as a result of
bacterial action. In nature, bioleaching is triggered spontaneously by
micro-organisms in the presence of air and water. Commercially applied
bioleaching technologies utilize the same phenomenon, but accelerate the
process significantly by increasing the amount of bacteria and by improving
their living conditions through added air, water and nutrients
The bioleaching bacteria get their energy by oxidizing iron and inorganic
sulphur compounds, and they derive carbon for their growth from carbon dioxide
in the air. The bacteria also need small amounts of trace nutrients such as
phosphorus, magnesium and ammonia nitrogen. As a result of bioleaching, the
sulphides in the ore are oxidized to sulphates and the metals are liberated
into solution as metal ions.
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