Patent ID: 8268038
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of conducting a bioleaching process to recover metal content from an ore which contains the metal that includes: (a) forming a main heap from the ore, (b) inoculating the heap with iron oxidizing mesophilic microorganisms, sulphuroxidising mesophilic microorganisms, and moderate thermophilic microorganisms, (c) culturing a mixed inoculum of moderate thermophilic and thermophilic microorganisms by using a plurality of reactors, each reactor being used for a respective microorganism that is active in a particular temperature range and wherein the particular temperature range is selected from temperatures which encompass the following temperature values 25° C., 35° C., 50° C., 55° C. and 65° C., (d) adding carbon dioxide to the main heap while the main heap temperature is in a mesophilic temperature region, and (e) inoculating the main heap with the mixed inoculum before the heap temperature reaches a thermophilic temperature range to maintain the cell count in the heap at a value of from 10