Researchers in Sudbury, Ontario, are currently engaged in efforts to expand the use of bacteria-powered technology to extract valuable metals from old mine waste on a larger scale. MIRARCO Mining Innovation is operating a pilot facility to test how microbes can break down mine tailings, releasing essential minerals like nickel, cobalt, and copper through a process known as bioleaching.
Despite bioleaching being common in international mining practices, with around 30 mine sites worldwide utilizing this technology, Canada has not yet implemented full-scale commercial deployment, as stated by Nadia Mykytczuk, the CEO of MIRARCO. During a recent visit to the 10,000-square-foot pilot facility in Sudbury, Mykytczuk and others demonstrated how bioleaching functions.
Although the team only recently occupied the facility in May, their research has been ongoing for several years. Mykytczuk highlighted the abundance of tailings in Sudbury, estimating that the local tailings contain approximately $8 billion to $10 billion worth of nickel.
Concerns over environmental risks associated with storing mine waste in large ponds instead of reprocessing them have hindered companies from investing in tailings reprocessing. These risks include potential chemical reactions that may generate acid and release metals into the surrounding environment over time.
Both federal and provincial governments have been urging increased development of critical minerals to secure clean energy technology and national defense supply chains. Mykytczuk emphasized that bioleaching not only meets the demand for critical minerals but also aids in mining cleanup efforts.
The bioleaching process involves grinding down tailings, mixing them with a liquid solution to feed bacteria, and allowing the microbes to separate metals through chemical reactions. The resulting liquid is then extracted after passing through a series of reactors. The team is working to replicate this process on a larger scale for practical mining operations.
To support the commercial viability of the extracted metals, the researchers are exploring ways to convert them into industrial products. The next phase involves transitioning from pilot testing to full-scale operations within the next two to three years in Canada.
Through the utilization of advanced microbial techniques and bioleaching processes, the team aims to revolutionize the extraction of valuable metals from mine waste, contributing to both resource sustainability and economic growth in the mining industry.
