Biomining Technologies: Extracting and Recovering Metals from Ores and Wastes

This book describes emerging and established industrial processes of biomining technologies used for the recovery of metals of economic interest from, e.g. mineral ores, mining and electronic wastes using microbiological technologies. 

Multiple chapters focus on engineering design and operation of biomining systems. Several industrial case studies from China, Chile, Peru, Russia/Kazakhstan and Finland are included, which emphasises the practical approach of the book. The reader not only learns more about the biology, diversity and ecology of microorganisms involved in biomining processes, but also about microbial biomolecular and cultivation tools used in the biomining industry. Special emphasis is put on emerging biotechnologies enabling the use of biomining for recycling metals from e-wastes, waste streams and process waters. Finally, the future impacts and direction of biomining towards sustainability in a metal-demanding world are also highlighted.

The book is aimed at an interdisciplinary audience involving operators and researchers working across disciplines including geology, chemical engineering, microbiology and molecular biology. This is reflected by the content of this book, as well as by its authors, who are all leading practitioners and authorities in their fields.

Barrie Johnson is a research professor at the Universities of Bangor and Coventry (UK) and a Research Associate of the Natural History Museum (London) with >30 years experience with using specialised microorganisms to extract and recover metals. He is an elected member of the Learned Society of Wales, an Industrial Research Fellow of the Royal Society, has held honorary professorships at Exeter University and Central South University (China), research fellowships awarded by the US Department of Energy and Bureau of Mines, and has, on two occasions, acted on behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency (in Peru). He has worked with many of the leading global mining companies (Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Newmont, Vale etc.) and collaborates with many research groups throughout the world on fundamental and applied aspects of biohydrometallurgy. He has published over 380 articles in journals, books and conference proceedings, and has worked on over 70 funded (research council, EU and industry) research projects. His research was highlighted by Scientific American as one of “10 world changing ideas” in their December 2011 edition. He co-edited (with Professor Doug Rawlings) the 2nd edition of Biomining, which was published by Springer-Verlag in 2007.

Chris Bryan is head of the Geomicrobiology and Environmental Monitoring unit at BRGM - the French Geological Survey, leading a team of microbiologists and geochemists providing expertise and technological assistance for environmental protection and monitoring. This includes the remediation and restoration of mine wastes and post-mining environments and the development of ecotechnologies for the sustainable exploitation of primary and secondary raw materials. Prior to joining BRGM, he was Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Mining at the Camborne School of Mines (University of Exeter, UK). He is an environmental and molecular microbiologist, with >20 years’ experience in the microbiology of biohydrometallurgical systems (both tank and heap leaching) and acidogenic mine wastes.

Michael Schlomann is full professor for environmental microbiology at Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg. Based on a background in the degradation of organic contaminants, molecular ecology, and white biotechnology, after having been appointed in Freiberg he turned more and more to mining-related microbiology. Several projects with regional companies and other partners dealt with microbial treatment of acid mine drainage. More recently, projects focused on leaching of ores and included partners mainly in Chile, but also Sweden and South Africa. He is the initiator and speaker of the Biohydrometallurgical Centre Freiberg. He has published ca. 140 papers in peer-reviewed journals or extended conference contributions. He has served on the editorial board of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology as well as of Bioresource Technologyand has published the Textbook Umweltmikrobiologie with Prof. Reineke. For more than 15 years he has served on the selection committee of the German Environmental Foundation (DBU) for doctoral fellowships.

Frank Roberto is a director of processing at Newmont Corporation. He joined Newmont in 2012 and held senior and chief metallurgist positions in the Newmont Metallurgical Services corporate laboratory before moving to his current role in the Technical Services process development team. He is the corporate subject matter expert (SME) for biohydrometallurgy. He is responsible for identifying and developing transformational technologies for processing, tailings, and water treatment and R&D advisor to the corporate energy and decarbonization team. Prior to joining Newmont he directed and executed biotechnology R&D programs at the US Dept. of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory for 23 years, in areas ranging from bioleaching to biodefense. He was electedto the US National Academy of Engineering in 2020, is a co-inventor for 14 US patents and has published over 75 technical articles, including a chapter with Barrie Johnson in the first edition of Biomining published in 1997.