The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test tool into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test tool into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

A method of leaching copper-containing ores includes leaching copper-containing ores or concentrates or tailings of the ores or concentrates with a leach liquor in the presence of an additive that enhances the dissolution of copper from copper minerals in the ores and concentrates by forming a complex between (a) sulfur, that has originated from copper minerals in the ores, and (b) the additive. A method of leaching copper-containing ores includes leaching copper-containing ores or concentrates or tailings of the ores or concentrates with a leach liquor includes leaching copper-containing ores or concentrates or tailings of the ores or concentrates with a leach liquor in the presence of a nitrogen-containing organic complexing additive that forms a complex between sulfur, that has originated from copper minerals in the ores, and the additive.

A method of leaching copper-containing ores, such as chalcopyrite ores, with a leach liquor in the presence of silver and an activation agent that activates silver whereby the silver enhances copper extraction from copper ores.

A method of leaching copper-containing ores, such as chalcopyrite ores, with a leach liquor in the presence of silver and an activation agent that activates silver whereby the silver enhances copper extraction from copper ores.

The invention relates to a process for recovering metals from aqueous solutions or solid feedstocks such as ores and waste. In particular, the invention relates to a method of recovering a target metals using a microorganism.

The invention relates to a process for recovering metals from aqueous solutions or solid feedstocks such as ores and waste. In particular, the invention relates to a method of recovering a target metals using a microorganism.

The present invention relates to a metal recovery agent or a metal compound recovery agent including: a dried matter of a cell or a cell derivative of the red algae belonging to the order Cyanidiales, or an artificial matter that imitates the dried matter. The present invention also relates to a method for recovering a metal or a metal compound including: an addition step of adding a dried matter of a cell or a cell derivative of the red algae belonging to the order Cyanidiales, or an artificial matter that imitates the dried matter to a metal solution; and an adsorption step of causing a metal or a metal compound contained in the metal solution to be adsorbed onto the cell or the cell derivative derived from the dried matter, or the artificial matter.

The present invention relates to a metal recovery agent or a metal compound recovery agent including: a dried matter of a cell or a cell derivative of the red algae belonging to the order Cyanidiales, or an artificial matter that imitates the dried matter. The present invention also relates to a method for recovering a metal or a metal compound including: an addition step of adding a dried matter of a cell or a cell derivative of the red algae belonging to the order Cyanidiales, or an artificial matter that imitates the dried matter to a metal solution; and an adsorption step of causing a metal or a metal compound contained in the metal solution to be adsorbed onto the cell or the cell derivative derived from the dried matter, or the artificial matter.

Microbial-assisted heap leaching of fragments or agglomerates of fragments of copper-containing sulfidic ores, such as chalcopyrite ores, and copper-containing sulfidic waste materials is disclosed. A heap leaching method includes controlling the sulfate concentration in a leach liquor. When heap leaching includes using agglomerates, a method of forming agglomerates includes adding the feed materials at, or close to, the inlet end, typically no more than 40%, typically no more than 30%, more typically no more than 20%, of the length from the inlet end of the agglomeration unit.