BioteQ’s patented BioSulphide® Process has two stages: biological and chemical as shown in the following simple schematic.

In the process, sulphur-reducing bacteria in an anaerobic bioreactor produce hydrogen sulphide gas (H₂S). The gas is transferred to a contactor tank where it mixes with the water to be treated under controlled conditions to selectively precipitate metals as metal sulphides. The precipitated metals and water are pumped to a clarifier tank where the clean water is separated from the metal solids and discharged or recycled. The metal solids are filtered to remove excess water, producing a high grade metal product suitable for refining. To recover separate metal sulphide products, separate contactor and clarifier tanks are set up in series.

Metals that can be recovered into valuable products include copper, zinc, nickel and cobalt. Toxic metals such as arsenic, antimony, lead, cadmium, and manganese are also removed from the water.

BioteQ’s BioSulphide® Process is used to treat acid mine drainage, leach solutions, industrial wastewater, water in mineral processing and metallurgical operations, and contaminated groundwater.

BioteQ is presently operating a BioSulphide® plant at a mine site in the US, in joint venture with a large mining firm. Click here for more information about BioteQ’s operations.

Benefits of BioteQ’s BioSulphide® Process:

• Produces a low cost sulphide reagent that can be used for metal recovery or other industrial applications.
• Eliminates or reduces the environmental liability caused by metal-contaminated water.
• Metal recovery rate is greater than 99%; recovered metal products are high grade and suitable for refining.
• Recovered metals can generate revenue to offset water treatment costs.
• Produces high quality treated water that can be discharged safely to the environment.
• Saves money compared to alternative processes.
• Easy to scale up and down over a wide range of H₂S production capacities.