The GeoBiotics GEOCOAT® technology - Progress and challenges

Abstract

Minerals biooxidation is now accepted as a viable technology for the pretreatment of refractory sulfidic gold ores and concentrates, and for the leaching of base metals from their ores and concentrates. Tank bioleaching or biooxidation is successful in achieving high metal recoveries, but both capital and operating costs are relatively high. Heap biooxidation has lower costs, but to date has suffered from low metal extraction rates and low ultimate metal recoveries. These disadvantages may outweigh the lower capital and operating costs of heap processes. GeoBiotics has developed and patented the GEOCOAT® biooxidation and bioleaching technology, which combines the high recoveries of tank processes with the low costs of heap-based processes. The process has been commercialized for the pretreatment of a refractory sulfidic gold concentrate. GeoBiotics is also developing the GEOLEACH™ technology for bioleaching and biooxidation of gold and base metal ores in heaps (Fig. 5.1).