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Bioleaching of ocean manganese nodules in
the presence of reducing agents The
key for successful and efficient dissolution of copper, nickel and cobalt from the ocean
manganese nodules depend on prior reduction of manganese and ferric oxides with which the
above valuable nonferrous metals are interlocked. The present work is relevant to
bioleaching of ocean manganese nodules using autotrophic microorganisms, such as
Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans in the presence of pyrite and
sucrose which resulted in significant dissolution of copper, nickel and cobalt from the
ocean manganese nodules. Electrochemical means of creating reducing conditions in situ are
also brought out. Various biochemical and electrochemical mechanisms in the leaching
process are outlined. |
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