H.c. Starck Gmbh

Bechtel Bwxt Idaho, Lcc

Geosynfuels, LLC

Thomas R Clark

Wolfgang Kummer

Wilfried Gutknecht

Francisco F Roberto

Dae-Yeol Cheong

James Gregory Olson

Gregory James Olson

The invention relates to a method of recovering molybdenum from a molybdenum bearing sulfide material. The material is contacted with a leaching solution in the presence of iron compounds and mesophilic or thermophilic iron oxidizing microorganisms and subsequently, a leaching process is performed by controlling the molar ratio of dissolved ferric iron to dissolved molybdenum. Preferably, a high amount and molar excess of dissolved iron is used. The presence of high concentrations of ferric iron in bioleach solutions allows iron-oxidizing microorganisms to grow and oxidize iron and bioleach molybdenite at dissolved Mo concentrations as high as 4.4 g/L. Organic metabolites were not required for protecting cells from Mo toxicity. Maximum dissolution rates depend on reactor configuration, with agglomerated material simulating heap leaching of almost 1% Mo/day, but up to 10.2% Mo/day in suspension/stirred reactor configurations, with rate highly dependent on temperature within the range of 25&#xb0; C. to 40&#xb0; C. The ultimate extent of Mo removal from the molybdenum bearing sulfide material is 89%. Finally, molybdenum is recovered from a leach residue of the leaching process.

Recovery of molybdenum from molybdenum bearing sulfide materials by bioleaching in the presence of iron

The present invention provides a method for selective production of hydrogen and methane from a biomass feedstock in a reactor vessel maintained under anaerobic conditions by controlling moisture concentration in the reactor vessel. The method comprises the steps of introducing a biomass feedstock into the reactor vessel maintained under anaerobic conditions; introducing a bacterial inoculum into the reactor vessel to facilitate digestion of the biomass feedstock; setting a moisture concentration of the contents of the reactor vessel at a first moisture level; and collecting hydrogen gas from the reactor vessel. The method may further comprise maintaining the moisture concentration at a first moisture level or within a first moisture range. The method may additionally comprise increasing the moisture concentration of the contents of the reactor vessel to a second moisture concentration; and collecting methane gas from the reactor vessel. Switching between hydrogen and methane production is controlled by adjusting the moisture concentration of the contents of the reactor vessel.

Methods for selectively producing hydrogen and methane from biomass feedstocks using an anaerobic biological system

A method for microbial production of epoxides and other oxygenated products is disclosed. The method uses a biocatalyst of methanotrophic bacteria cultured in a biphasic medium containing a major amount of a non-aqueous polar solvent. Regeneration of reducing equivalents is carried out by using endogenous hydrogenase activity together with supplied hydrogen gas. This method is especially effective with gaseous substrates and cofactors that result in liquid products.

Microbial production of epoxides

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Lakewood, CO, United States of America

Thomas R Clark