Patent EA-000429-B1 (EA)
Title: Method of biotreatment for solid materials in a nonstirred surface bioreactor
Inventor: KOHR WILLIAM J
IPC: C01G7/00
Filed: 1996-05-14
Abstract: 1. A method of biotreating a solid material to remove an undesired compound using a nonstirred surface bioreactor, said process comprising the steps of: a. coating the surface of a plurality of coarse substrates having a particle size greater than about 0.3 cm with a solid material to be biotreated and thereby forming a plurality of coated coarse substrates, said solid material to be biotreated having a particle size less than about 250 μm and containing an undesired compound; b. forming a nonstirred surface reactor by stacking said plurality of coated coarse substrates into a heap or placing said plurality of coated coarse substrates into a tank, said reactor having a void volume greater than or equal to about 25%; c. inoculating said reactor with a microorganism capable of degrading the undesired compound in said solid material to thereby form a nonstirred surface bioreactor; and d. biotreating said solid material in said bioreactor until said undesired compound in said solid material is degraded to a desired concentration. 2. A method according to Claim 1, further comprising the steps of: e. separating said biotreated solid material from said plurality of coarse substrates after said undesired compound has been degraded to said desired concentration; and f. repeating steps a-d using said plurality of coarse substrates. 3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said solid material, coating on the surface of a plurality of coarse substrates comprises organic contaminant as an undesired compound; said step of inoculating comprises inoculating said reactor with a microorganism capable of degrading the undesired compound, and the step of biotreating is carried out until anorganic contaminant degraded to a desired concentration. 4. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of coating further comprises a coating the surface of a plurality of coarse substrates with a solid material, comprising soil, which containing organic contaminant as an undesired compound; wherein said step of inoculating comprises inoculating said reactor with a microorganism capable of degrading the undesired compound, and said step of biotreating is carried out until an organic contaminant degraded to a desired concentration. 5. A method according to Claim 1 or 2 the step of coating comprises coating a plurality coarse substrates with soil, containing at least one organic contaminant selected from the group consisting of waste oil, grease, jet fuel, diesel fuel, crude oil, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polynuclear aromatics (PNAs), pentachlorophenol (PCP). polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), creosote, pesticides, 2,4,6,-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-l,3,5-triazine (RDX), octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-l,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), N-methyl-N-2,4,6-tetranitroaniline, and nitrocellulose (NC); said step of inoculating comprises inoculating said reactor with a microorganism capable of degrading at least one the undesired compound, and said step of biotreating is carried out until at least one organic contaminant degraded to a desired concentration. 6. A method according to Claim 3, 4, or 5, wherein said plurality of coarse substrates are comprised of plastic. 7. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of coating further comprises a coating the surface of a plurality of coarse substrates with a solid material, comprising sulfide mineral particles as an undesirable compound; said step of inoculating comprises inoculating said reactor with a microorganism capable of degrading sulfide mineral particles, and said step of biotreating is carried out until sulfide mineral particles degraded to a desired concentration. 8. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of coating further comprises a coating the surface of a plurality of coarse substrates with coal, comprising sulfide mineral particles as an undesirable compound; said step of inoculating comprises inoculating said reactor with a microorganism capable of degrading sulfide mineral particles, and said step of biotreating is carried out until sulfide mineral particles degraded to a desired concentration. 9. A method according to Claim 8, wherein said plurality of coarse substrates are comprised of coarse coal particles. 10. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of coating further comprises a coating the surface of a plurality of coarse substrates with a refractory sulfide ore, comprising sulfide mineral particles as an undesirable compound; said step of inoculating comprises inoculating said reactor with a microorganism capable of degrading sulfide mineral particles, and said step of biotreating is carried out until sulfide mineral particles degraded to a desired concentration. 11. A method according to Claim 10, wherein said plurality of coarse substrates is comprised of coarse refractory sulfide ore particles. 12. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, or 10, wherein said plurality of coarse substrates are comprised of at least one material selected from the group consisting of rock, lava rock, gravel, rock containing carbonate minerals, brick, cinder block, and slag. 13. A method according to any of Claims 1-12, wherein the coarse substrates have a nominal particle size greater than or equal to about 0.6 cm and less than or equal to about 2.54 cm. 14. A method according to any of Claims 1-13, wherein the amount of solid material coated onto said plurality of coarse substrates is from approximately 10% to approximately 30% by weight. 15. A method according to any of Claims 1-14, wherein said solid material has a particle size that is greater than or equal to about 25 μm. 16. A method according to any of Claims 1-14, wherein said solid material has a nominal particle size that is greater than or equal to 75 μm and less than or equal to 106 μm. 17. A method according to Claim 1, wherein said biotreatment step comprises at least one of the following steps: supplying the bioreactor with nutrients necessary to sustain the growth of the microorganism, maintaining the moisture content of the bioreactor above a desired level, blowing air into the bioreactor through perforated pipes, maintaining the pH of the bioreactor within a predetermined range, and maintaining the temperature of the bioreactor within a predetermined range. 18. A method according to any of Claims 1-17, wherein said solid material coating thickness on said plurality of substrates is less than about 1 ram. 19. A method according to any of Claims 1-18, wherein said void volume is greater than or equal to about 35%. 20. A method according to any of Claims 1-19, wherein no more than 5% by weight of said coarse substrates are less than 0.3 cm. 21. A method of biooxidizing a sulfide mineral concentrate comprised of fine metal sulfide particles to liberate metal values of interest using a nonstirred surface bioreactor, the process comprising the steps of: a. coating the surface of a plurality of coarse substrates having a particle size greater than about 0.3 cm with the concentrate and thereby forming a plurality of concentrate coated coarse substrates; b. forming a nonstirred surface reactor by stacking the plurality of concentrate coated coarse substrates into a heap or placing the plurality of concentrate coated coarse substrates into a tank; c- biooxidizing the fine metal sulfide particles on the surface of the plurality of coarse substrates until the metal values of interest are liberated. 22. A method according to Claim 21, wherein the nonstirred surface reactor is formed by stacking the plurality of concentrate coated coarse substrates into a heap and the process further comprises the steps of: d. breaking the heap down after the metal sulfide particles coated on the surface of the plurality of coarse substrates are biooxidized to a desired degree; e. separating the biooxidized metal sulfide particles from the plurality of coarse substrates; and f. repeating steps a-c using the plurality of coarse subs t rates. 23. A method according to Claim 21, wherein the nonstirred surface reactor is formed by placing the plurality of concentrate coated coarse substrates into a tank and the process further comprises the steps of: d. separating the biooxidized metal sulfide particles from the plurality of coarse substrates; and e. repeating steps a-c using the plurality of coarse substrates. 24. A method according to Claim 21, wherein the plurality of coarse substrates comprise coarse ore particles that contain metal sulfide particles. 25. A method according to Claim 24, further comprising the steps of: d. separating the biooxidized metal sulfide particles from the plurality of coarse substrates after the metal sulfide particles coated on the surface of the plurality of coarse substrates are biooxidized to a desired degree; e. grinding the plurality of coarse substrates to a particle size sufficient to permit the separation of metal sulfide particles therefrom; f. producing a second sulfide mineral concentrate comprised of fine metal sulfide particles from the plurality of ground coarse substrates; g. coating a second plurality of coarse substrates with the second concentrate; h. forming a second heap using the second plurality of coated substrates; and i. biooxidizing the second concentrate of metal sulfide particles. 26. A method according to Claim 24 or 25, wherein the coarse ore particles also contain mineral carbonate. 27. A method according to Claim 21, 22, or 23 wherein the material used for said plurality of coarse substrates is at least one material selected from the group consisting of lava rock, gravel, and rock containing mineral carbonate. 28. A method according to any of Claims 21-27 wherein the coarse substrates have a nominal particle size greater than or equal to about 0.6 cm and less than or equal to about 2.5 cm. 29. A method according to any of Claims 21-28, wherein the amount of concentrate coated