This Bacteria Eats Toxic Metal, ''Poops'' Gold Nuggets
Now, new research reveals that special enzymes within the bacteria are responsible for changing toxic versions of gold into inert solid gold, which creates miniature gold nuggets.
WhatsApp)
Now, new research reveals that special enzymes within the bacteria are responsible for changing toxic versions of gold into inert solid gold, which creates miniature gold nuggets.
Citation: Bacteria produce gold by digesting toxic metals (2018, February 1 The role of microorganisms in industrial gold processing. Apr 28, 2017.
02/05/2017#0183;#32;Research from the University of Adelaide has found that certain nugget producing bacteria could be the key to developing more efficient methods of processing of gold ore.. The university has
The bacteria detoxify dissolved gold by accumulating it in inert nanoparticles inside their cells 2; Reith and his colleagues have spent the past decade working out how, but have not yet published...
07/05/2017#0183;#32;There are species of bacteria that efficient at processing of gold ore. Applications include recycling electronics as well as use in exploration for new deposits. A new study demonstrates the
01/02/2014#0183;#32;Biotechnology has the potential to transform uneconomic gold reserves into resources. Bioprocessing can be attractive for: 1) low grade gold ores that are too expensive to process using conventional processes and 2) ores that contain impurities that foul conventional processing equipment ( arsenic in gold ore).
Using bacteria to mine precious metals. Black shale ores are rich in valuable precious metals including copper, nickel, silver, gold and platinum. EUfunded researchers used biotechnology to successfully mine metals from these difficult sites with minimal environmental impact.
The bacteria are expected to process some 400,000 tonnes of gold sulphide per year. Goldmining has always used rather toxic chemicals to extract the gold. The bacteria should be cleaner.
Frank Reith, a microbiologist at the University of Adelaide in Australia, whose work on goldprocessing bacteria was a touchstone for Magarveys team, told Nature, the finding opens up the
In the natural environment, primary gold makes its way into soils, sediments and waterways through biogeochemical weathering and eventually ends up in the ocean. On the way bacteria can dissolve and reconcentrate gold this process removes most of the silver and forms gold nuggets.
The technology employs naturallyoccurring bacteria, harmless to both humans and the environment, to liberate precious and base metals from difficult to treat ores, concentrates and tailings. This is only one of the benefits of using bioleaching for the remediation of tailings and other mining stockpiles.
WhatsApp)