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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Microorganisms in mineral processing

Conference ·
OSTI ID:271952
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States)
  2. Univ. Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre (Brazil)

The concept of microorganisms as chemical reagents (flocculants, flotation modifiers and flotation collectors) is quite new. Potential uses for microorganisms include their use in place of certain conventional flotation reagents and as flocculating agents in minerals engineering processes. In addition, in some studies microorganisms have been used to modify mineral surfaces and, thus, the flotation or flocculation of the minerals. Preconditioning with various microorganisms such as Thiobacillus ferrooxidans are known to cause depression of pyrite selectively in coal flotation.

OSTI ID:
271952
Report Number(s):
CONF-9510120--; ISBN 0-87335-140-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English