A method of recovering a metal, such as copper or nickel or zinc or cobalt, from a metal-containing material, such as a metal-containing material that has been categorized by a mine operator as being “non-economic” from the perspective of recovering the metal from the material. Mixing (i) the metal-containing material and (ii) pyrite and forming agglomerates. Leaching agglomerates with a leach liquor, with pyrite generating acid and heat that facilitate recovering the metal from the metal-containing material, and forming a pregnant leach liquor containing metal. Recovering the metal from the pregnant leach liquor.

A method of recovering a metal, such as copper or nickel or zinc or cobalt, from a metal-containing material, such as a metal-containing material that has been categorized by a mine operator as being “non-economic” from the perspective of recovering the metal from the material. Mixing (i) the metal-containing material and (ii) pyrite and forming agglomerates. Leaching agglomerates with a leach liquor, with pyrite generating acid and heat that facilitate recovering the metal from the metal-containing material, and forming a pregnant leach liquor containing metal. Recovering the metal from the pregnant leach liquor.

This disclosure provides microbes for the preferential separation of Scandium (Sc) from rare earth element (REE) containing materials, as well as methods of use thereof.

This disclosure provides microbes for the preferential separation of Scandium (Sc) from rare earth element (REE) containing materials, as well as methods of use thereof.

Metal bioremediation and metal mining strategies can include compositions and methods.

Methods of treating leachates in rock piles. Exemplary leachates include neutral aqueous leachates containing selenates and nitrates, said leachates being found in waste rock piles from coal mining operations. In certain embodiments, the method includes introducing an inert gas to the lower section of the rock pile, and allowing bacteria indigenous to the mining site to reduce the selenates and nitrates to selenium and nitrogen, respectively.

Methods of treating leachates in rock piles. Exemplary leachates include neutral aqueous leachates containing selenates and nitrates, said leachates being found in waste rock piles from coal mining operations. In certain embodiments, the method includes introducing an inert gas to the lower section of the rock pile, and allowing bacteria indigenous to the mining site to reduce the selenates and nitrates to selenium and nitrogen, respectively.

Provided is a method of preparing an activated mineral solution, which includes steps of pulverizing granite and/or vermiculite into a powder by grinding, subjecting the powder to an electrolysis treatment, dissolving the powder in an aqueous ammonia solution and an acidic solution to prepare a mixed solution, emitting ultrasonic waves on the mixed solution, introducing microorganisms onto the mixed solution, and neutralizing the mixed solution, in which the mineral is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mg, Al, Ti, K, Ca, Mn, Nb, P, Na, Zn, V, Cr, Ni, Si, B, Cu, Li, Ga, Co, Sr, In, Rb, Sb, Ta, Y, and combinations thereof.

The phytoremediation process for removing hazardous metals, such as Be, Cr, Co, Mn, and Ra, from contaminated soil and/or coal fly ash, e.g. in a landfill, includes growing plants in the soil and/or fly ash; incorporating a root growth inducing auxin in the soil and/or fly ash in the vicinity of the growing plants and subsequently cultivating the plants until a predetermined increase in root mass of the plant roots has occurred. The preferred auxin is 3-4-deoxy-glucosamine, which was found to increase plant root mass by 200% to 800%. An organic synthesis using glucosamine as starting material or a bioengineering process starting with commercial micronized shrimp meal and/or crab meal moistened with water can provide the 3-4-deoxy-glucosamine. Economical embodiments of the process use plants that produce marketable products and recovers valuable metals.

The phytoremediation process for removing hazardous metals, such as Be, Cr, Co, Mn, and Ra, from contaminated soil and/or coal fly ash, e.g. in a landfill, includes growing plants in the soil and/or fly ash; incorporating a root growth inducing auxin in the soil and/or fly ash in the vicinity of the growing plants and subsequently cultivating the plants until a predetermined increase in root mass of the plant roots has occurred. The preferred auxin is 3-4-deoxy-glucosamine, which was found to increase plant root mass by 200% to 800%. An organic synthesis using glucosamine as starting material or a bioengineering process starting with commercial micronized shrimp meal and/or crab meal moistened with water can provide the 3-4-deoxy-glucosamine. Economical embodiments of the process use plants that produce marketable products and recovers valuable metals.