S. N. Vinogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Federal Research Centre “Fundamentals of Biotechnology”, Moscow, Russia:
A. G. Bulaev, Acting Head of Laboratory, e-mail: bulaev.inmi@yandex.ru

Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia:
E. V. Pershina, Senior Lecturer

Joint Enterprise of Scientific and Production Association “RIVS”, Saint Petersburg, Russia:
I. V. Ukraintsev, Director of Department of Hydrometallurgy

Biohydrometallurgy allows the processing of poor and ill-conditioned ores, rebellious concentrates, technological products and metallurgical production wastes. Near 20 types of microorganisms, capable to use the inorganic ore material substances, are applied in biohydrometallurgical processes. A range of patented biohydrometallurgical technologies is widely applied in different countries. The biggest practical success is in heap bioleaching of copper ores and agitation leaching of rebellious gold-bearing concentrates (including doublerebellious ones). Biohydrometallurgical development prospects are connected both with solving of various technological problems of already existing technologies, and with development of new technologies for processing of the raw material types, which are not currently used. Russia is one of global mineral extraction leaders, having various sulfide ore deposits but with rather limited experience of application of biohydrometallurgical technologies. It has only one enterprise, which since 2000, has been industrially processing the refractory ores (concentrates) of Olimpiada deposit by biooxidation. A large part of biohydrometallurgical investigations, carried out in leading Russian scientific-research organizations, shows that introduction of biohydrometallurgy processes in Russia can be rather prospective. However nowadays it is not realized on practice.

This work was carried out within the joint scientific-research project of Joint Enterprise of Scientific and Production Association “RIVS” and Federal Research Centre “Fundamentals of Biotechnology”.

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