C10__Resources
Phytomining
- Plants are grown in land containing the metal compound we want.
- They absorb the metal compound and concentrate it in tissue.
- They plants are harvested and burned. The ash contains high concentration of the metal compound.
- The copper can be displaced from the metal compound with iron.
Bioleaching
- Bacteria are mixed with a low grade ore.
- They carry out chemical reactions producing a solution called a leachate
- The leachate contains the metal compound we want.
- The copper can be displaced from the metal compound with iron.