Abstract: A system for sulfur (S) bioadaptation in a stable dispersion form for feeding industrial bioreactors, which are composed of a tank with a liquid medium made up of a supernatant dilution or part of a sulfur oxidizing bacterial culture, a recirculating pump fed from the tank, and an eductor which is connected at its input to the recirculation pump, and connected at its output back to the tank, closing the recirculation circuit. There is a supply of S in fine powder form present in the eductor's feeding path. Where the supernatant or part of a sulfur oxidizing bacterial culture is diluted between 100 and 10 times in sulfur containing culture medium.

Abstract: The invention discloses an additive for bioleaching that makes it possible to increase the recovery of copper from sulfide ores. In which this additive is substantially made up of the Licanantase lipoprotein and a solution of sulfuric acid with a pH of 0.8 to 3. The Licanantase lipoprotein that has an amino acid sequence with at least 50% homology regarding the sequence defined in SEQ ID No. 1 or is the product of translation of a nucleotide sequence with at least 50% homology regarding the sequence defined in SEQ ID No. 2. It also protects the improved bioleaching process that includes adding the additive during the ore bioleaching process as defined in the present invention; and continuing with the habitual process, obtaining copper recoveries increased 5 to 20%.

Abstract: The present invention corresponds to a commercial production process of ferric sulfate whose plant can be installed scaled to the requirements of the process of application of the bio-produced ferric solution based on fayalite slag generated in copper smelting plants. No previous process has established as its method of industrial application the use of these smelter slags in the bio-production of ferric sulfate solutions at concentrations above 20 g/L, including a stage of acid-slag leaching in dynamic heaps with control of generated silica and subsequent precipitation of colloidal silica and other impurities in a stirred reactor in the invented process. The ferrous solution free of colloidal silica and other impurities is subjected to a process of bio-oxidization of the clean ferrous solution by microorganisms adapted to these metallurgical solutions.

Abstract: The invention discloses an additive for bioleaching that makes it possible to increase the recovery of copper from sulfide ores. In which this additive is substantially made up of the Licanantase lipoprotein and a solution of sulfuric acid with a pH of 0.8 to 3. The Licanantase lipoprotein that has an amino acid sequence with at least 50% homology regarding the sequence defined in SEQ ID No. 1 or is the product of translation of a nucleotide sequence with at least 50% homology regarding the sequence defined in SEQ ID No. 2. It also protects the improved bioleaching process that includes adding the additive during the ore bioleaching process as defined in the present invention; and continuing with the habitual process, obtaining copper recoveries increased 5 to 20%.

Abstract: The present invention makes known an array of nucleotidic sequences for rapidly and simultaneously identifying the presence of certain genes that codify proteins with relevant activities in biotechnology present in a microbiological sample, and the method with which this array is used in the identification of the above mentioned genes. Specifically speaking, genes that codify for proteins relevant in the biofilm formation, in CO2 fixation, in energetic metabolism, for chemiotaxis and mobility, in iron oxidizing, in nitrogen metabolism, in sulfur assimilation, and in oxidation/reduction of sulphide compounds, are identified. This array of nucleotidic sequences is presented as a useful tool in biotechnology whenever evaluating the quality of a microbiological community is required.

Abstract: The present invention corresponds to a commercial production process of ferric sulfate whose plant can be installed scaled to the requirements of the process of application of the bio-produced ferric solution based on fayalite slag generated in copper smelting plants. No previous process has established as its method of industrial application the use of these smelter slags in the bio-production of ferric sulfate solutions at concentrations above 20 g/L, including a stage of acid-slag leaching in dynamic heaps with control of generated silica and subsequent precipitation of colloidal silica and other impurities in a stirred reactor in the invented process. The ferrous solution free of colloidal silica and other impurities is subjected to a process of bio-oxidization of the clean ferrous solution by microorganisms adapted to these metallurgical solutions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an array of DNA fragments from biomining microorganisms and a method to identify readily and simultaneously said microorganisms in a sample. This method is a useful tool in biomining, in every circumstance where a global understanding of the present microbiological diversity is required, or simply to assess the presence of some microorganism with biomining relevance, either on the mineral, or in a bioleaching heap, in the biomining laboratory or in any other circumstance involving biomining microorgarisms.

Abstract: The invention discloses an air-lift bioreactor, with internal recirculation, for producing sulfide-ore and minerals bioleaching solutions, with a phase-separating and solids-recirculation system without needing to impel the suspension containing the solids to the bioreactor by means of pumps, using diatomaceous earth and/or ferric precipitates as solid support to immobilize iron and sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms. Specifically speaking, the invention describes a bioreactor that continuously produces bioleaching solutions containing microorganisms for inoculation and irrigation of sulfide-ore heaps and dumps processed by bioleaching. The bioreactor is stirred pneumatically, and is generally made up of an air diffuser, a reaction zone, a de-gasification zone, a solids separation zone, a culture media inlet, and a bioleaching solution outlet.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an isolated chemolithotrophic bacterial strain belonging to the specie Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, named “Wenelen” and deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH—DSMZ under classification number DSM 16786, the use of said bacteria for leaching ores or concentrates containing of metallic sulfide species and leaching processes based on the use of said bacteria or mixtures that contain said bacteria. This Wenelen DSM 16786 strain has an increased oxidizing activity, especially regarding chalcopyrite, when compared to known bacteria. Due to the former feature, this bacteria strain show great interest for biomining applications and it is presently being subjected to annotation processes after sequencing.

Abstract: The present invention makes known an array of nucleotididc sequences for rapidly and simultaneously identifying the presence of certain genes that codify proteins with activities relevant in biotechnology, present in a microbiological sample, and the method for using this array in the identification of the said genes. Specifically, genes that codify for proteins relevant in Biofilm formation, in CO2 fixation, in Energetic metabolism, for chemiotaxis and mobility, in iron oxidization, in nitrogen metabolism, in Sulfur assimilation, and in oxidation/reduction of sulfide compounds. This array of nucleotidic sequences is presented as a useful tool in biotechnology in all cases requiring an evaluation of the quality of a microbiological community.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an array of DNA fragments from biomining microorganisms and a method to identify readily and simultaneously said microorganisms in a sample. This method is a useful tool in biomining, in every circumstance where a global understanding of the present microbiological diversity is required, or simply to assess the presence of some microorganism with biomining relevance, either on the mineral, or in a bioleaching heap, in the biomining laboratory or in any other circumstance involving biomining microorganisms.

Abstract: Microorganisms are used in large-scale heap or tank aeration processes for the commercial extraction of a variety of metals from their ores or concentrates. These include copper, cobalt, gold and, in the past, uranium. The metal solubilization processes are considered to be largely chemical with the microorganisms providing the chemicals and the space (exopolysaccharide layer) where the mineral dissolution reactions occur. Temperatures at which these processes are carried out can vary from ambient to 80° C. and the types of organisms present depends to a large extent on the process temperature used. Irrespective of the operation temperature, biomining microbes have several characteristics in common. One shared characteristic is their ability to produce the ferric iron and sulfuric acid required to degrade the mineral and facilitate metal recovery. Other characteristics are their ability to grow autotrophically, their acid-tolerance and their inherent metal resistance or ability to acquire metal resistance.

Abstract: The invention publishes a reactor and method for the culture, biooxidation of cations in solution and/or large-scale propagation of jointly isolated microorganisms, with or without native microorganisms that are useful in sulfide metal ore bioleaching. The invention particularly publishes a reactor for the large-scale culture and/or propagation of an association of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans Licanantay DSM 17318 isolated microorganisms jointly with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Wenelen DSM 16786 with or without the presence of other microorganisms.

Abstract: The invention publishes a process for the joint culture of an association of microorganisms using pyrite (FeS2) as an energy source. This invention particularly publishes the use of a pyrite ore as an energy source in the joint culture of an association of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans type isolated microorganisms known as Wenelen DSM 16786 and Licanantay DSM 17318 respectively.

Abstract: The invention publishes the use of mining products and sub-products that contain pyrite, such as copper concentrates, and waste from the process in which these concentrates are obtained, known as scavenger tail, as an energy source for the large-scale culture of an association of microorganisms that are useful for ore bioleaching, and that includes both isolated microorganisms, and native microorganisms from the worked ores. In particular, the invention publishes the use of mining waste known as scavenger tail from the flotation process, in the culture of an association of isolated microorganisms of the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans y Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans type together, with or without other native microorganisms from the worked ores.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an isolated chemolithotrophic bacterial strain belonging to the specie Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, named “Wenelen” and deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH—DSMZ under classification number DSM 16786, the use of said bacteria for leaching ores or concentrates containing of metallic sulfide species and leaching processes based on the use of said bacteria or mixtures that contain said bacteria. This Wenelen DSM 16786 strain has an increased oxidizing activity, especially regarding chalcopyrite, when compared to known bacteria. Due to the former feature, this bacteria strain show great interest for biomining applications and it is presently being subjected to annotation processes after sequencing.