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Investigation of Microbially Induced Permeability Loss During In-Situ Leaching.

PB83205534

Publication Date	1982
Personal Author	Brierley, C. L.; Brierley, J. A.
Page Count	72
Abstract	Accumulations of microorganisms in the in situ leaching environment are believed responsible for plugging of the orebody and thus decreasing uranium extraction. To assess the contribution of microbial growth to this problem, packed columns of ore and core specimens were leached in the laboratory. Samples collected at four in situ uranium mining operations revealed pseudomonads, Xanthomonads, Bacillus sp. and Micrococcus sp. These microorganisms, inoculated into simulated leaching conditions, decreased permeability in two uranium ores by one order of magnitude in 20 days. Hydrogen peroxide alleviated microbial plugging in the laboratory. Periodic injection of hydrogen peroxide through the production well into the orebody may reduce microbial plugging problems in the field.
Keywords	Leaching Permeability Microorganisms Solution mining Uranium ores Bacteria Soil microbiology Ground water Hydrogen peroxide Viruses
Source Agency	Bureau of Mines
NTIS Subject Category	48A - Mineral Industries
Corporate Authors	New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro.; Bureau of Mines, Washington, DC.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Contract research rept. 23 Feb 81-15 Jul 82.
NTIS Issue Number	198317
Contract Number	DI-SO211032

Investigation of Microbially Induced Permeability Loss During In-Situ Leaching.

Investigation of Microbially Induced Permeability Loss During In-Situ Leaching.
PB83205534

Publication Date	1982
Personal Author	Brierley, C. L.; Brierley, J. A.
Page Count	72
Abstract	Accumulations of microorganisms in the in situ leaching environment are believed responsible for plugging of the orebody and thus decreasing uranium extraction. To assess the contribution of microbial growth to this problem, packed columns of ore and core specimens were leached in the laboratory. Samples collected at four in situ uranium mining operations revealed pseudomonads, Xanthomonads, Bacillus sp. and Micrococcus sp. These microorganisms, inoculated into simulated leaching conditions, decreased permeability in two uranium ores by one order of magnitude in 20 days. Hydrogen peroxide alleviated microbial plugging in the laboratory. Periodic injection of hydrogen peroxide through the production well into the orebody may reduce microbial plugging problems in the field.
Keywords	Leaching Permeability Microorganisms Solution mining Uranium ores Bacteria Soil microbiology Ground water Hydrogen peroxide Viruses
Source Agency	Bureau of Mines
NTIS Subject Category	48A - Mineral Industries
Corporate Authors	New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro.; Bureau of Mines, Washington, DC.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Contract research rept. 23 Feb 81-15 Jul 82.
NTIS Issue Number	198317
Contract Number	DI-SO211032