Other

Michael V Rowley

Douglas Dale Warkentin

Beverly M Piroshco

In accordance with the process of the invention, bacteria are used to provide hydrogen sulfide and carbonate compounds for treating solutions containing metal ions. To produce the hydrogen sulfide, the bacteria utilize sulfate ions present in the solution. Hydrogen sulfide produced by the bacteria is used to remove metals from the solution as insoluble metal sulfides. The process of the invention thereby removes sulfate and metal ions from the treated solution. The bacteria used are mixed populations, including strains of naturally-occurring sulfate reducing bacteria, which have been serially adapted and selected to be highly active with the particular solutions to be treated and with the carbon and hydrogen sources being utilized. The bacteria may be fed gaseous hydrogen and carbon nutrients produced by a partial oxidation burner. Carbonate compounds produced by the bacteria may be used to raise the solution pH for treatment and discharge. By controlling the addition of hydrogen sulfide and carbonate compounds to the solution, the preferential isolation of particular metal sulfide concentrates may be accomplished in separate precipitation steps, each with a specific pH and sulfide dosage.

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Vancouver, Canada

Michael V Rowley