Abstract: A process for recovering copper from heap leach residues, the process comprising treating heap leach residues to provide treated heap leach residues providing improved permeability of a heap of the treated heap leach residues, and leaching the heap of the treated heap leach residues with a leaching solution. Treating the heap leach residues includes: a) blending the heap leach residues with additional material to provide a blend; or b) agglomerating the heap leach residues; or c) both blending the heap leach residues with additional material and agglomerating.

Abstract: A process for recovering copper from heap leach residues, the process comprising treating heap leach residues to provide treated heap leach residues providing improved permeability of a heap of the treated heap leach residues, and leaching the heap of the treated heap leach residues with a leaching solution. Treating the heap leach residues includes: a) blending the heap leach residues with additional material to provide a blend; or b) agglomerating the heap leach residues; or c) both blending the heap leach residues with additional material and agglomerating.

Abstract: A method of extracting zinc from a sulphidic ore is provided which comprises bioleaching the ore in a heap with acidophilic microorganisms to produce a pregnant leach solution which is recovered from the bottom of the heap. An integrated process which comprises subjecting the pregnant leach solution to neutralization and solvent extraction to produce a concentrated zinc solution is also provided. Zinc may be recovered from the concentrated solution by means of electrowinning, either in the absence or presence of manganese. Alternatively zinc may be recovered in the form of a zinc compound.

Abstract: A process is provided for obtaining flotation froth with a predetermined solids content by manipulating the bias of a flotation column. The flotation column is used for the flotation of an oil sands slurry, for example oil sands middlings, where bitumen is separated from mineral particles. Bitumen, which is hydrophobic, adheres to rising air bubbles to make a bitumen concentrate. Solids being mostly hydrophilic, report to the column underflow as flotation tails.

Abstract: A method of extracting zinc from a sulphidic ore is provided which comprises bioleaching the ore in a heap with acidophilic microorganisms to produce a pregnant leach solution which is recovered from the bottom of the heap. An integrated process which comprises subjecting the pregnant leach solution to neutralization and solvent extraction to produce a concentrated zinc solution is also provided. Zinc may be recovered from the concentrated solution by means of electrowinning, either in the absence or presence of manganese. Alternatively zinc may be recovered in the form of a zinc compound.

Abstract: A method of extracting zinc from a sulphidic ore is provided which comprises bioleaching the ore in a heap with acidophilic microorganisms to produce a pregnant leach solution which is recovered from the bottom of the heap. An integrated process which comprises subjecting the pregnant leach solution to neutralization and solvent extraction to produce a concentrated zinc solution is also provided. Zinc may be recovered from the concentrated solution by means of electrowinning, either in the absence or presence of manganese. Alternatively zinc may be recovered in the form of a zinc compound.

Abstract: A method of selectively leaching zinc from a source material containing zinc in sulphide form and iron, comprises the steps of subjecting the source material to bioleaching with a strict sulphur oxidizing micro organism or a mixed culture of sulphur oxidizing and iron oxidizing micro organisms, in the presence of a nutrient solution containing less than about 15 mg/L phosphate ions. In another embodiment, the source material is in the form of a slurry having a solids concentration of at least about 25% on a weight per volume basis and a nutrient solution containing from about 1 mg/L to less than about 100 mg/L ammonium ions, from about 0.5 mg/L to less than about 40 mg/L magnesium ions and from about 2 mg/L to less than about 60 mg/L phosphate ions.

Abstract: A method for treating petroleum with anaerobic microorganisms acting as biocatalysts that can remove sulfur atoms from hydrocarbon molecules, under anaerobic conditions, and then convert the sulfur atoms to hydrogen sulfide. The microorganisms utilized are from the family known as the "Sulfate Reducing Bacteria." These bacteria generate metabolic energy from the oxidation of organic compounds, but use oxidized forms of sulfur as an electron acceptor. Because the biocatalyst is present in the form of bacteria in an aqueous suspension, whereas the reacting substrate consists of hydrocarbon molecules in an organic phase, the actual desulfurization reaction takes place at the aqueous-organic interphase. To ensure adequate interfacial contacting and mass transfer, a biphasic electrostatic bioreactor system is utilized. The bioreactor is utilized to disperse and recoalesce a biocatalyst contained in the aqueous liquid phase into the organic liquid phase containing the sulfur.