#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Specialists from the Siberian Federal University (SFU), together with colleagues from the North-Eastern Federal University (NEFU) and the Scientific Center for Research on the Extreme State of the Body of the Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS, have developed a method, unique for Russia, of isolating gold and antimony from multicomponent ores.
To do this, instead of aggressive chemicals, scientists used natural strains of bacteria living in ore pulp.
“We are achieving more complete extraction of metals from ore and high quality of the concentrate. In order to isolate minerals containing gold and antimony from this substance as selectively as possible, we propose to use natural strains of bacteria selected from the region’s gold deposits”, said one of the study authors, associate professor of the Mineral Processing Department at the Non-Ferrous Metals Institute of Siberian Federal University Natalya Algebraistova.
This method, in comparison with traditional ones, is more environmentally friendly and effective – a larger percentage of the beneficial substance is extracted. In addition, it is much cheaper, since it consumes three times less electricity.
Scientists believe that new economical and environmentally friendly methods for extracting antimony and gold will be in demand. Gold is widely used in the jewelry industry and medicine, antimony is used in the production of semiconductors, optical glass, enamels, ceramics and phosphors.
Previously, we told you that scientists from the Ecology and Geography Institute of SibFU and the United Directorate of Taimyr Nature Reserves will conduct a large-scale study of the musk ox population in the north of the Krasnoyarsk region.
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Text: Victor Borodin, Photo: Polina Lyubimaya
