Abstract Tailings are remaining processing waste streams from mines, disposed after valuable minerals extraction from the mined ore. Tailings contain varying concentrations of residual valuable metals that are currently lost due to lack of economical treatment possibilities. With sulfide containing tailings there is also a risk of acid rock drainage. In this study, iron- and sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms were utilized in bioleaching to treat pyrite-rich tailings to liberate mainly cobalt, alongside with other valuable metals. After adaptation of the microbial culture and batch bioleaching tests, the continuous-batch mode mini-pilot protocol was applied in 10 L stirred tank reactors (30 °C, 100 g/L solid content), reaching high leaching yields for the target metals (Co 87%, Zn 100%, Ni 67%, Cu 43%) in approximately 10 days retention time. The results show potential to turn challenging tailing streams into secondary resource for valuable metals.

中文翻译：

---

硫化矿尾矿中钴的生物浸出；一项小型试点研究

摘要 尾矿是来自矿山的剩余加工废物流，在从开采的矿石中提取有价值的矿物后处理。尾矿含有不同浓度的残留有价值金属，由于缺乏经济的处理可能性，这些金属目前正在流失。对于含硫化物的尾矿，也存在酸性岩排水的风险。在这项研究中，铁和硫氧化微生物被用于生物浸出处理富含黄铁矿的尾矿，主要释放钴和其他有价值的金属。在适应微生物培养和分批生物浸出试验后，将连续分批模式小型试验方案应用于 10 L 搅拌釜反应器（30 °C，100 g/L 固含量），达到目标金属的高浸出率（ Co 87%、Zn 100%、Ni 67%、Cu 43%）在大约 10 天的保留时间内。