Patent ID: 6767522
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: C12P,C22B,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for microbial leaching of a sulfidic material, the process comprises the steps of:a) preparing an aqueous leaching fluid consisting of at least one sulfur-containing amino acid selected from the group consisting of cysteine, methionine, and homocysteine; or an amide or ester thereof, and optionally a buffer; b) contacting said fluid with the sulfidic material for a length of time sufficient to achieve leaching, wherein bacteria of the genus Thiobacillus are either a component of the aqueous leaching fluid of step (a) or, the bacteria are added to a discharging fluid, wherein said discharging fluid comprises the aqueous leaching fluid resulting from the performance of step (b).