Abstract
With increasing demand for steel and depletion of high-grade iron ore deposits, more research efforts are being directed toward extending the life of existing ore reserves and developing technology to treat low-grade iron ore resources. Among all the reported technologies, biotechnologies in mineral processing — specifically bioleaching and microbially induced flotation — have emerged to be considered as low-cost, environmentally friendly potential alternatives to many of the current mineral processing techniques. This paper provides a comprehensive review of current research on the use of microorganisms for iron ore beneficiation and, further, discusses the applicability of bioleaching, bioflotation and bioflocculation for the beneficiation of low-grade iron ores.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Acuna, J., Rojas, J., Amaro, A.M., Toledo, H., and Jerez, C.A., 1992, “Chemotaxis of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and other acidophilic chemolithotrophs: comparison with the Escherichia coli chemosensory system,” FEMS Microbiol Lett., Vol. 96, pp. 37–42.
Adeleke, R., Cloete, E., and Khasa, D., 2010, “Isolation and identification of iron ore-solubilising fungus,” South African Journal of Science, Vol. 106, pp. 9–10.
Anyakwo, C.N., and Obot, O.W., 2010, “Phosphorus removal capability of Aspergillus terreus and Bacillus subtilis from Nigeria’s Agbaja iron ore,” Journal of Minerals & Materials Characterization & Engineering, Vol. 9, No. 12, pp. 1131–1138.
Banfield, J., Barker, W., Welch, S., and Taunton, A., 1999, “Biological impact on mineral dissolution: application of the lichen model to understanding mineral weathering in the rhizosphere,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., Vol. 96, pp. 3404–3411.
Brombacher, C, Bachofen, R., and Brandl, H., 1997, “Biohydrometallurgical processing of solids: a patent review,” Appl. Microbiol Biotechnol., Vol. 48, pp. 577–587.
Chime, T.O., 2013, “Optimization of process variables for the biodephosphorization of iron ore using Leptospirillum Ferrooxidans,” International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences and Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 2–4.
Delvasto, P., et al., 2007, “Dephosphorization of an iron ore by a filamentous fungus,” XXII Brazilian National Meeting of Mineral Treatment and Extractive Metallurgy/VII Meeting of the Southern Hemisphere on Mineral Technology, Ouro Preto, Brazil, pp. 285–293.
Delvasto, P., Ballester, A., Muñoz, J.A., González, F., Blázquez, M.L., and García, C., 2005, “Exploring the possibilities of biological beneficiation of iron-ores: the phosphorus problem,” Proceedings of the 15th Steelmaking Conference, 5th Ironmaking Conference & 1st Environment and Recycling Symposium IAS (CD-ROM), November 7–10, Argentinean Steelmaking Institute, San Nicolás, Buenos Aires, Argentina, pp. 71–82.
Delvasto, P., et al., 2008, “Diversity and activity of phosphate bioleaching bacteria from a high-phosphorus iron ore,” Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 92, No. 3–4, pp. 124–129.
Deo, N., and Natarajan, K.A., 1998, “Studies on interaction of Paenibacillus polymyxa with iron ore minerals in relation to beneficiation,” Int. J. Miner. Process, Vol. 74, pp. 143–155.
Deo, N., and Natarajan, K.A., 1999, “Role of corundum-adapted strains of Bacillus polymyxa in the separation of hematite and alumina,” Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, Vol. 16, pp. 29–32.
Dopson, M., Baker-Austin, C., Hind, A., Bowman, J.P., and Bond, P.L., 2004, “Characterization of ferroplasma isolates and Ferroplasma acidarmanus sp. nov., extreme acidophiles from acid mine drainage and industrial bioleaching environments,” Appl Environ Microbiol., Vol. 70, No. 4, pp. 2079–2088.
Dresher, W.H., 2004, “Producing Copper Nature’s Way: Bioleaching Innovation,” Copper Development Association — Information on Copper and its Alloys.
Eisele, T.C., and Gabby, K.L., 2014, “Review of reductive leaching of iron by anaerobic bacteria,” Mineral Processing & Extractive Metall. Rev., Vol. 35, pp. 75–105.
Farahat, M., Hirajima, T., Sasaki. K., Aiba, Y., and Doi, K., 2008, “Adsorption of SIP E. coli onto quartz and its applications in froth flotation,” Miner. Eng., Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 389–395.
Johnson, D.B., 1998, “Biodiversity and ecology of acidophilic microorganisms,” FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Vol. 27, No. 4, p. 307.
Lacey, D.T., and Lawson, F., 1970, “Kinetics of the liquid-phase oxidation of acid ferrous sulfate by the bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans,” Biotechnol. Bioeng., Vol. 12, pp. 29–50.
Lindstrom, E.B., Wold, S., Kettaneh-Wold, N., and Saaf, S., 1993, “Optimization of pyrite bioleaching using Sulfolobus acidocaldarius,” Applied Microbiology Biotechnology, Vol. 38, pp. 702–707.
Liu, Y., Gao, M., et al., 2006, “Characterization of magnetotactic bacteria and their magnetosomes isolated from Teishan iron ore in Hubei province of China,” Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. 26, pp. 597–601.
Manchee, R.J., 1977, “Bacterially assisted plants process for leaching of uranium ore in geology,” Mining and Extractive Process of Uranium London, pp. 56–62.
De Mesquita, L.M.S., Lins, F.F., and Torem, M.L., 2003, “Interaction of a hydrophobic bacterium strain in a hematite-quartz flotation system,” Int. J. Miner. Process., Vol. 71, pp. 34–44. (in Portuguese, Brazil)
Misra, M., Chen, S., Smith, R.W., and Raichur, A.M., 1993, “Mycobacterium phlei as a flotation collector for hematite,” Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, Vol. 10, pp. 170–175.
Mostad, E., Rolseth, S., and Thonstad, J., 2008, “Electrowinning of iron from sulphate solutions,” Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 90, pp. 213–220.
Muller, H.J., 1964, “The relation of recombination to mutational advance,” Mutat. Res., Vol. 106, pp. 2–9.
Natarajan, K.A., 2003, “Microbially induced mineral flotation and flocculation,” Proceedings of the 22nd International Mineral Processing Congress, L. Lorenzen and D. Bradshaw, eds., September 29–October 3, Cape Town, South Africa, pp. 676–686.
Natarajan, K.A., and Padukone, S.U., 2012, “Microbially-induced separation of quartz from hematite using yeast cells and metabolites,” Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 81–87.
Nautiyal, C., 1999, “An efficient microbiological growth medium for screening phosphate solubilizing microorganisms,” FEMS Microbiol. Lett., Vol. 170, pp. 265–270.
Panias, D., Taxiarchou, M., Paspaliaris, I., and Kontopoulos, A., 1996, “Mechanisms of dissolution of iron oxides inaqueous oxalic acid solutions,” Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 42, pp. 257–265.
Poorni, S., and Natarajan, K.A., 2014, “Flocculation behaviour of hematite-kaolinite suspensions in presence of extracellular bacterial proteins and polysaccharides,” Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, Vol. 114, pp. 186–192.
Poorni, S., and Natarajan, K.A., 2013, “Microbially induced selective flocculation of hematite from kaolinite,” International Journal of Mineral Processing, Vol. 125, pp. 92–100.
Raichur, A.M., Misra, M., and Smith, R.W., 1995, “The potential for selectively flocculating coal from pyrite using a hydrophobic bacterium,” Proceedings of the International Conference on Mineral Processing: Recent Advances and Future Trends, S.P. Mehrotra and R. Shekhar, eds., Allied Publishers Ltd., pp. 686–693.
Raichur, A.M., Misra, M., and Smith, R.W., 1996, “Flocculation and flotation of coal by adhesion of hydrophobic Mycobacterium phlei,” Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, Vol. 8, No. 1–2, pp. 13–24.
Raichur, A.M., Misra, M., Davis, S.A., and Smith, R.W., 1997, “Flocculation of fine coal using synthetic and biologically derived flocculants,” Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 22–26.
Raman, U., 2011, Performance Overview, BHP Billiton Site Tour Presentation, September 27.
Rawlings, D.E., and Johnson, D.B., eds., 2007, Biomining, Springer, Heidelberg, 487 pp.
Roberts, J.A., et al., 2006, “Attachment behavior of Shewanella putrefaciens onto magnetite under aerobic and anaerobic conditions,” Geomicrobiology Journal, Vol. 23, pp. 631–640.
Sabari Prakasan, M.R., and Natarajan, K.A., 2010, “Microbially induced separation of quartz from hematite using sulfate reducing bacteria,” Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, Vol. 78, pp. 163–170.
Sand, W., Rohde, K., Sobotke, B., and Zenneck, C., 1992, “Evaluation of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans for leaching,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 58, No. 1, pp. 85–92.
Sarvamangala, H., Natarajan, K.A., and Girisha, S.T., 2012, “Biobeneficiation of iron ores,” International Journal of Mining Engineering and Mineral Processing, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 21–30.
Schneider, I.A.H., Mistra, M., and Smith, R.W., 1994, “Bioflocculation of fine suspensions by Candida parasilosis and its sonication productions,” Reagents for Better Metallurgy, P.S. Mulukutla, ed., TMS, Warrendale, pp. 197–208.
Sharma, P.K., and Hanumantha Rao, K., 1999, “Role of a heterotrophic Paenibacillus polymyxa bacteria in the bioflotation of some sulfide minerals,” Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, Vol. 16, pp. 35–41.
Smith, R.W., and Miettinen, M., 2006, “Microorganisms in flotation and flocculation: future technology or laboratory curiosity?” Minerals Engineering, Vol. 19, No. 6–8, pp. 548–553.
Smith, R.W., Misra, M., and Raichur, A.M., 1994, “Microorganisms in mineral processing,” Mineral Bioprocessing II, D.S. Holmes and R.W. Smith, eds., TMS, Warrendale, PA, pp. 271–278.
Usha Padukone, S., and Natarajan, K.A., 2011, “Microbially induced separation of quartz from calcite using Saccharomyces cerevisiae,” Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, Vol. 88, pp 45–50.
Xia, W.-T., Ren, Z.-D., and Gao, Y.-F., 2011, “Removal of phosphorus from high phosphorus iron ores by selective HCl leaching method,” Journal of Iron and Steel Research, International, Vol. 18, No. 5, pp. 1–4.
Zheng, X.P., Smith, R.W., Mehta, R.K., Misra, M., and Raichur, A.M., 1998, “Anionic flotation of apatite from dolomite modified by the presence of a bacterium,” Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, Vol. 15, pp. 52–56.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Paper number MMP-14-005.
Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted to SME Publications Dept. prior to November 30, 2015.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, M.M., Li, H.X., Andrade, M. et al. Feasible bioprocessing technologies for low-grade iron ores. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 32, 78–87 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402424
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402424