Resources Recycling (자원리싸이클링)

The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling (한국자원리싸이클링학회)
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Review on bioleaching of uranium from low-grade ore

저품위(低品位) 우라늄철(鑛)의 미생물 침출법(浸出法)

  • Patra, A.K. (Mineral Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)) ;
  • Pradhan, D. (Mineral Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)) ;
  • Kim, D.J. (Mineral Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)) ;
  • Ahn, J.G (Division of Energy resources Engineering, Jungwon University) ;
  • Yoon, H.S. (Mineral Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM))
  • ;
  • ;
  • 김동진 (한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부) ;
  • 안종관 (중원대학교 에너지자원공학부) ;
  • 윤호성 (한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부)
  • Received : 2010.08.12
  • Accepted : 2011.03.11
  • Published : 2011.04.29
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Abstract

This review describes the involvement of different microorganisms for the recovery of uranium from the ore. Mainly Acidithiobacillus forrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans are found to be the most widely used bacteria in the bioleaching process of uranium. The bioleaching of uranium generally follows indirect mechanism in which bacteria provide the ferric iron required to oxidize $U^{4+}$. Commercial applications of bioleaching have been incorporated for extracting valuable metals, due to its favorable process economics and reduced environmental problems compared to conventional metal recovery processes such as smelting. At present the uranium is recovered through main bioleaching techniques employed by heap, dump and in situ leaching. Process development has included recognition of the importance of aeration of bioheaps, and improvements in stirred tank reactor design and operation. Concurrently, knowledge of the key microorganisms involved in these processes has advanced, aided by advances in molecular biology to characterize microbial populations.

본 총설은 광석으로부터 우라늄의 미생물 침출시 사용하는 Acidithiobacillus forrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans 그리고 Leptospirillum ferrooxidans 등에 역할과 침출반응에 관하여 기술하였다. 미생물에 의한 우라늄의 침출반응은 박테리아가 우라늄 광석과 직접 반응하기 보다는 박테리아가 $U^{4+}$를 산화시키는데 필요한 $Fe^{3+}$를 공급하고, $Fe^{3+}$가 우라늄 광석과 반응하는 간접반응기구(indirect mechanism)에 의하여 일어난다. 건식제련법과 같은 전통적인 금속회수 공정에 비하여 환경친화적이고 경제적인 장점 때문에 저품위 광물자원으로부터 유기금속을 회수하는데 미생물 제련법이 널리 활용되고 있다. 현재 우라늄은 heap, dump 그리고 in situ를 이용한 미생물 침출법으로 회수되고 있다. Bioheap의 공기 투입량, 교반반응용기의 디자인 및 조업 개선 분야에서 기술개발이 지속적으로 이루어졌으며 최근에는 미생물 침출반응에 투입된 박테리아의 특성 개선 및 균주수를 제어하기 위한 molecular biology 분야에서 활발한 연구가 진행되고 있다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)

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