Page 1: Biological Methods for Metal Extraction

This comprehensive page explores two key biological methods for metal extraction: phytomining and bioleaching, addressing the growing challenge of limited high-grade metal ores.

Definition: Phytomining is a process where plants are used to absorb and concentrate metal ions from low-grade ores through their root systems.

Highlight: The phytomining advantages and disadvantages GCSE content shows it's an environmentally conscious method that reduces mining impact while being cost-effective.

Example: In the process of bioleaching, bacteria break down low-grade ores to produce a copper-containing acidic solution (leachate), which can then be processed to extract pure copper.

The advantages of both methods include:

For Phytomining:

• Cost-effectiveness
• Environmental sustainability
• Waste ore utilization

For Bioleaching:

• Operational simplicity
• Lower maintenance costs
• Ability to process poor-quality ores

Vocabulary: Leachate - The acidic solution containing metal ions produced during bioleaching.

Quote: "Iron is more reactive than copper and it can displace copper from leachate," demonstrating the chemical principle behind the metal recovery process.

The disadvantages include:

For Phytomining:

• Lower metal quality
• CO2 emissions from plant burning
• Time-intensive process

For Bioleaching:

• Slow processing time
• Lower profit margins
• Potential toxic byproducts

The document concludes with detailed process diagrams showing the complete cycles of both extraction methods, emphasizing their practical applications in modern mining operations.