The invention relates to a method for recovering precious metals from electronic waste utilising biometallurgical techniques. In one aspect, a method of recovering one or more target metals from electronic waste, includes (a) removing at least a portion of non-target material from the electronic waste or grinding to a preselected size particle to give pre-processed electronic waste; (b) contacting the pre-processed electronic waste with a lixiviant such that at least a portion of the target metal(s) dissolve into the lixiviant to produce a pregnant solution; (c) contacting a microorganism with the pregnant solution such that at least a portion of the target metal(s) ions biosorb to the microorganism wherein the microorganism becomes metal laden and the pregnant solution becomes barren; (d) substantially separating the metal laden microorganism from the barren solution; and (e) recovery of the target metal(s) from the metal laden 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 metal using a microorganism and recycling depleted growth media or depleted lixiviant back through the process.

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 metal using a microorganism and recycling depleted growth media or depleted lixiviant back through the process.

Method of biodesintegrating metal scrap with a bacterial consortium adapted to high concentrations of ferrous sulfate and ferric sulfate, access RGM 2972 of the Chilean Collection of Genetic and Microbial Resources; intermediate solution comprising it, useful in eliminating surface oxidation in metallic structure; and oxidizing solution, useful in the hydrometallurgical extraction of copper.

The disclosure provides a magnetic reagent comprised of a recombinant yeast cell having the following genetic modifications: impairment of the CCC1 gene; addition of at least one copy of a human ferritin gene complex; addition of at least one copy of a TCO89 gene; and addition of at least one copy of a mineral- or metal ion-adsorbing target peptide, wherein the magnetic susceptibility or mass magnetization of said magnetic reagent is greater than it would be for a native yeast.

A process for recovering copper from heap leach residues containing residual copper, includes identifying a production zone within the heap leach residues for secondary leaching, drilling wells into the heap at locations suitable for delivering leach solution into the production zone, injecting the leach solution including ferric ions through the wells and aerating the production zone to facilitate oxidative reactions within the production zone, and collecting effluent from the heap for copper recovery therefrom.

A process for recovering copper from heap leach residues containing residual copper, includes identifying a production zone within the heap leach residues for secondary leaching, drilling wells into the heap at locations suitable for delivering leach solution into the production zone, injecting the leach solution including ferric ions through the wells and aerating the production zone to facilitate oxidative reactions within the production zone, and collecting effluent from the heap for copper recovery therefrom.

A method of leaching copper from a heap of ore which includes an ore agglomeration step, an ore stacking step wherein agglomerated ore is stacked to form a heap, a curing step, a leach step, and a rinse step, wherein, during the ore agglomeration step the ore is contacted with an acidified solution, nitrates or nitrites, and chloride, to create an oxidative environment prior to the leach step.

The present application is generally directed to separation and recovery of rare earths using biomass, liposomes, and/or other materials. In some embodiments, a composition comprising rare earths is exposed to biomass, where some of the rare earths are transferred to the biomass, e.g., via absorption. The composition may then be separated from the biomass. A solution may be exposed to the biomass thereby enriching the solution in one or more rare earths, relative to other rare earths in the biomass. The solution and the biomass may then be separated, and the rare earths recovered from the solution. In some cases, this process may be repeated with different solutions, which may result in different solutions enriched in various rare earths. Similar processes may be used to separate the rare earths from thorium and uranium. Liposomes may be used instead of and/or in addition to biomass.

The present application is generally directed to separation and recovery of rare earths using biomass, liposomes, and/or other materials. In some embodiments, a composition comprising rare earths is exposed to biomass, where some of the rare earths are transferred to the biomass, e.g., via absorption. The composition may then be separated from the biomass. A solution may be exposed to the biomass thereby enriching the solution in one or more rare earths, relative to other rare earths in the biomass. The solution and the biomass may then be separated, and the rare earths recovered from the solution. In some cases, this process may be repeated with different solutions, which may result in different solutions enriched in various rare earths. Similar processes may be used to separate the rare earths from thorium and uranium. Liposomes may be used instead of and/or in addition to biomass.