In mining environment arsenic is often present with gold in arsenopyrite and in other arsenic containing minerals, such as in nickel ores and industrial minerals. Thus, the management of arsenic in mining processes in important. At TUT, the bioleaching of nickel concentrates with simultaneous separation of arsenic is studied. The second research objective is the bacterial biooxidation of arsenopyrite materials in Finnish gold bearing minerals. The third research objective is to develop biological processes for recovering valuable mining industry materials from side and waste streams that contain iron and arsenic, and to generate a stable end product. The bioprocess is based on the precipitation of biologically oxidized iron and on the binding of arsenic on ferric iron precipitates. The research is conducted in collaboration with Geological Survey of Finland and VTT.
Responsible persons: Professor Jaakko Puhakka
Researchers: PhD Kathryn Wakeman, BSc Tech Toni Jaatinen
Funding: TEKES, Mondo Minerals B.V., Kemira Chemicals Oy
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