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POSSIBILITIES OF METAL RECOVERY FROM SEDIMENT FROM SLUDGE DISPOSAL SITE

Iva Janáková

Abstract

The paper deals with the possibilities of metal recovery from sediment from sludge disposal site after mining activity from locality Zlate hory. The locality is protected from mineralized water, which represents a potential threat for groundwater. This work deals with the use of bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans to bioleach polymetallic ores (Cu, Zn, and Fe) from these locality. It is a simple and effective method to recover metals from mineral raw materials, where conventional methods cannot be applied. As for geology, Zlate Hory is a highly varied locality with frequent, quartz, muscovite, albinite as well as deposits of sulphide ores (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite). Leaching lasted for 5 weeks in a bioreactor that ensured optimal conditions for bioleaching. For the bioleaching process, we prepared 9K medium according to Silverman and Lundgren. The leaching process took place in New Brunswick BIOFLOВ®&CELLINGENВ® 310. Having sterilized the bioreactor, 500 g of sample from Zlate hory at different grain size 0.1 ? 0.5; 0.063 ? 0.1; 0.040 ? 0.063; -0.040 mm. In the course of leaching, samples were drawn after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th week. All the samples were washed in 0.1.mol HCl and later in distilled water to stabilize pH. The drawn samples were analysed using a portable spectrometer Dynamic XRF Delta Professional by BAS Rudice s.r.o. The results imply that the experiments were successful, leaching 52% of Fe, 44% of Zn and 4% of Cu.

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