Biotechnology of Metals

1. Introduction to scope and statics of biotechnology relevant to minerals and metals-Background, description and relevance of various topics covered in the book2. Biotechnology-Materials Interface-Biology – Metals cycle in nature – Role of microorganisms in materials processing, Biomimetics and biomaterials processing strategies3. Biogenesis of minerals and metals. Geomicrobiology – concepts and applications. Biomineralization with examples4. History and Methods in Biohydrometallurgy – Microorganisms relevant to bioleaching and environment – Microbiological aspects of mining organisms – Application of molecular biological tools for exploration, mining and metal extraction5. Microbial adhesion to metals and minerals- Mechanisms in microbe – mineral interactions – Development of metal tolerant orgamsms – Bacterial adaptation to enhance bioleaching Kinetics6. Dump, bioheap leaching and solution mining (In-sit leach) – Concepts, principles and leaching strategies- Examples – Copper and uranium - Industrial operations and Practice7. Biohydrometallurgy of Zinc and Nickel – Mechanisms and approaches8. Bioreactor leaching – Stirred tank processes with applications in biohydrometallurgy – Applications in Copper, Zinc, Cobalt, Nickel and Precious Metal Extraction from concentrates9. Status and developments in bioleaching of metal concentrates – Industrial developments and analyses of problems10. Bioprocessing of polymetallic ores and ocean manganese nodules – Talvivaara as industrial experience11. Reductive dissolution in bioprocessing – Examples from bioprocessing of nickel laterites and ferric – oxide reduction12. Bioprocessing of secondary minerals and industrial wastes – Processing of electronic wastes – Bioprocessing of various secondary and waste products from petroleum, mining, chemical, leather and software industries13. Electrochemical concepts in biohydrometallurgy – Electrochemistry of metals and minerals – Galvanic and electrobioleaching – Electrobioleaching of multisulfide concentrates and ocean ferromanganese nodules14. Biomineral beneficiation – Microbially-induced flotation and flocculation of minerals- Surface chemical principles and mechanisms in biobeneficiation – Biobeneficiation of iron ores bauxite, clays, sulfide minerals and industrial minerals. Bioprocessing for rare earths, phosphorous removal15. Biofouling, biodeterioration and microbial corrosion of metals and alloys –Microorganisms and microbiology in microbially – influenced corrosion (MIC) - Biofilms and MIC mechanisms – Prevention strategies16. Microbial aspects of environmental pollution and control- Acid mine drainage – Microbiological aspects of acid mine drainage and control – Bioremediation and constructed wet land technology- Remediation of contaminated soils and waters. Mining environment control and rehabilitation of abandoned mines17. Experimental and Research techniques in metals biotechnology – Laboratory experiments in microbiology of mines, minerals and metals – Isolation, culturing and identification of mining microbes – Biobeneficiation and bioleaching experiments – Electrochemical aspects of bioleaching and biocorrosion18. References