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Biomining

Theory, Microbes and Industrial Processes

  • Book
  • © 1997

Overview

Editors:
  1. Douglas E. Rawlings

    1. Department of Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa

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  • Describes the theoretical background as well as biomining on an industrial scale.

Part of the book series: Biotechnology Intelligence Unit (BIOIU)

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Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
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  2. Overview

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. Mining Biotechnology: Research to Commercial Development and Beyond

      • Corale L. Brierley
      Pages 3-17

  4. Process Fundamentals

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 151-151
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    2. Recent Developments in Modeling the Kinetics of Bioleaching

      • Geoffrey S. Hansford
      Pages 153-175

    3. Physical Chemistry of Bacterial Leaching

      • Frank K. Crundwell
      Pages 177-200

    4. Optimization of Biooxidation Heaps

      • A. Ian M. Ritchie
      Pages 201-226

  5. Leaching Microorganisms

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 227-227
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    2. Mesophilic, Autotrophic Bioleaching Bacteria: Description, Physiology and Role

      • Douglas E. Rawlings
      Pages 229-245

    3. Thermophiles and Bioleaching

      • Paul R. Norris
      Pages 247-258

    4. Heterotrophic Acidophiles and Their Roles in the Bioleaching of Sulfide Minerals

      • D. Barrie Johnson, Francisco F. Roberto
      Pages 259-279

    5. Molecular Methods for the Identification and Enumeration of Bioleaching Microorganisms

      • Carlos A. Jerez
      Pages 281-297

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 299-302
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Keywords

About this book

Biomining is the use of microorganisms in the recovery of metals from ores. During bioleaching, metals such as copper, nickel or zinc are oxidized through microbial action from the water-insoluble sulfide to the soluble sulfate forms. Although gold is inert to microbial action, microbes can also be used in gold recovery from certain types of ores because as they oxidize the ore, they open up its structure, thereby allowing a gold-solubilizing agent such as cyanide to penetrate the ore. The book describes several industrial bioleaching and biooxidation processes as well as the underlying theory and biology of the microbes involved.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa

    Douglas E. Rawlings

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Biomining

  • Book Subtitle: Theory, Microbes and Industrial Processes

  • Editors: Douglas E. Rawlings

  • Series Title: Biotechnology Intelligence Unit

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-06111-4

  • Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1997

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-662-06113-8Published: 22 December 2012

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-662-06111-4Published: 09 March 2013

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XII, 302

  • Number of Illustrations: 65 b/w illustrations

  • Additional Information: Jointly published with Landes Bioscience, Georgetown, USA

  • Topics: Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, general, Mineralogy

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