Bioleaching Technologies

Bioleaching Technologies

Bioleaching technologies developed by BioSigma SA. use microorganisms adapted to live on the extreme conditions presented on heaps and dumps used on copper mining. Called extremophiles, these tiny organisms are fed on nutrients and electrons as a source of energy, causing the change of the geochemical composition of the ore in its surroundings. The action of the microorganisms facilitates the release of copper from its sulfide mineralogical species towards the leaching solutions. Once there, the process continues according to conventional techniques of solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW).

The main point of bioleaching is the management of microorganisms, considering three key aspects:

• Production and inoculation of biomass
• Functionality control
• Biomonitoring of metabolic activity.