| Abstract: | The possibility of bioleaching Al, K, Na, Ca and Mg using microorganisms of the Thiobacillus thiooxidans group from industrial waste product (IWP) of copper ore flotation from the company MEDET was studied. The aim of the investigations was to establish the possible application of a combined method for processing IWP. The preliminary mechanical activation in combination with bioleaching resulted in a high extent of extraction of useful components. It was established that the removal of useful components from mechanically activated IWP is improved compared to non‐activated IWP. The effect of the concentration of Al‐containing waste product, of incubation time and time of preliminary mechanical activation on the extraction degree (α) % w/w] of useful elements was investigated. The maximum degree of extraction of Al was achieved on Day 28 and its value reached 71% for industrial waste product mechanically activated for 4 hours. The maximum degrees of extraction of K and Na in the case of industrial waste product mechanically activated for 4 hours were achieved on Day 7 of the incubation period and their values were 78% and 91%, respectively. Under the conditions of bioleaching only Si had a low degree of extraction, accounting for 2.5%. The ability of microorganisms to leach aluminium could be used for the extraction of metals from nonbauxite raw materials and Al‐containing waste product not treatable by means of the BAYER method. |
