Ore Processing BioPlants

Inside TC’s BioPlant in Arica, Chile

Arica (Chile) is where the first TC’s BioPlant is being built. The BioPlant will process all the ores coming from Perú and will be able to process up to 1,000 metric tons of gold ore concentrate, becoming the world’s largest of its kind. The plant will work the ores in five stages as follows:

1. Preparation of Ore: The gold-containing ore is first crushed and ground into smaller particles to increase its surface area, making it more accessible to microorganisms.
2. Bioleaching Tanks: The crushed ore is then placed in bioleaching tanks along with a solution containing specialized microorganisms, such as bacteria capable of oxidizing sulfide minerals present in the ore, releasing gold into solution.
3. Oxidation: The microorganisms oxidize the sulfide minerals present in the ore, which helps dissolve the gold. 
4. Gold Extraction: As the microorganisms oxidize the sulfide minerals, they release gold ions into the solution. The dissolved gold ions are then recovered from the solution through adsorption onto activated carbon.
5. Recycling and Regeneration: After gold extraction, the solution may be recycled back into the bioleaching tanks, where the process continues. In some cases, additional nutrients or minerals, such as [specific nutrients or minerals], may be added to the solution to optimize the microbial activity. This is a crucial part of the process that requires meticulous control and monitoring to ensure efficient gold recovery.

Gold biomining, with its ability to extract gold from low-grade ores or tailings and its potential for reduced environmental impact and lower energy consumption, is the alternative to traditional gold extraction methods. However, it’s crucial to note that meticulous control and monitoring, a task that our esteemed technical experts are entrusted with, are essential to optimize microbial activity and ensure efficient gold recovery. Their expertise is the backbone of our operation.