XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 1639
several of the carbonic anhydrase-producing microbes pres-
ent in our biobank, we are able to achieve rapid precipita-
tion of Ca and Mg carbonates from cation-rich solutions by
bubbling CO2 into the solutions (Figure 7).
In addition, in bio-solvent leachates, we have observed
the spontaneous precipitation of Ca and Mg minerals
(Figure 8) and have confirmed their composition using
XRD. While the formation of carbonates is often regarded
as the best approach for long-term carbon storage, other
carbon-rich minerals provide similar geological stability
(e.g., temperature and water solubility) as carbonates and
can be formed with a wider array of cations (Figure 8).
CONCLUSION
Allonnia’s ever-growing microbial/enzyme database and
biobank is driving our work in the selective solubiliza-
tion of gangue minerals using bio-solvents, in developing
microbial approaches for agglomerating and controlling the
strength and geotechnical stability for a range of mining-
associated materials, and in pioneering solutions to carbon
capture.
Our current work on bio-solvents has identified mul-
tiple formulations that were able to produce the selective
removal of carbonate, hydroxide, and silicate minerals in
ore materials, concentrates and tailings. For a range of ore
materials, approximately 30% of the gangue alumino-sil-
icates were removed after just 2 hours of treatment with
one bio-solvent. Over the same time, the target metal com-
position increased by approximately 3%. One bio-solvent
solubilized over 25% of the MgO present in flotation con-
centrate, while value metal losses remained less than 5%.
Lastly, several bio-solvents achieved solubilization of
Ca and Mg from tailings to a similar extent as sulfuric
acid. These preliminary results suggest that we are able to
fine-tune the bio-solvents to target the removal of specific
minerals and prevent others from dissolving from the ore,
Figure 5. Cementation of Model Waste Material. Both enzymatic and
microbial formulations can be used for the cementation of model waste
materials
Figure 6. Tunability of the Unconfined Compressive Strength of the Mining
Material. By varying the treatment conditions but using the same enzymatic
formulation, the unconfined compressive strength was altered to fit different
application requirements. Data are averages of 7 or 8 samples for each treatment
several of the carbonic anhydrase-producing microbes pres-
ent in our biobank, we are able to achieve rapid precipita-
tion of Ca and Mg carbonates from cation-rich solutions by
bubbling CO2 into the solutions (Figure 7).
In addition, in bio-solvent leachates, we have observed
the spontaneous precipitation of Ca and Mg minerals
(Figure 8) and have confirmed their composition using
XRD. While the formation of carbonates is often regarded
as the best approach for long-term carbon storage, other
carbon-rich minerals provide similar geological stability
(e.g., temperature and water solubility) as carbonates and
can be formed with a wider array of cations (Figure 8).
CONCLUSION
Allonnia’s ever-growing microbial/enzyme database and
biobank is driving our work in the selective solubiliza-
tion of gangue minerals using bio-solvents, in developing
microbial approaches for agglomerating and controlling the
strength and geotechnical stability for a range of mining-
associated materials, and in pioneering solutions to carbon
capture.
Our current work on bio-solvents has identified mul-
tiple formulations that were able to produce the selective
removal of carbonate, hydroxide, and silicate minerals in
ore materials, concentrates and tailings. For a range of ore
materials, approximately 30% of the gangue alumino-sil-
icates were removed after just 2 hours of treatment with
one bio-solvent. Over the same time, the target metal com-
position increased by approximately 3%. One bio-solvent
solubilized over 25% of the MgO present in flotation con-
centrate, while value metal losses remained less than 5%.
Lastly, several bio-solvents achieved solubilization of
Ca and Mg from tailings to a similar extent as sulfuric
acid. These preliminary results suggest that we are able to
fine-tune the bio-solvents to target the removal of specific
minerals and prevent others from dissolving from the ore,
Figure 5. Cementation of Model Waste Material. Both enzymatic and
microbial formulations can be used for the cementation of model waste
materials
Figure 6. Tunability of the Unconfined Compressive Strength of the Mining
Material. By varying the treatment conditions but using the same enzymatic
formulation, the unconfined compressive strength was altered to fit different
application requirements. Data are averages of 7 or 8 samples for each treatment