# US 10,501,822 B2 · Biological ore processing for the isolation of heavy metals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,822 B2 - Document ID: US10501822B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/562,695 - Filed: 2016-03-30 - Published: 2018-03-01 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-30 - Assignees: CyPlus GmbH - Applicants: CyPlus GmbH - Inventors: Stephen Gos; Andrea Christiansen; Xin Lu; Guido Meurer; Yvonne Tiffert; Esther Gabor; Benedikt Hoffmann; Martin Langer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501822B2 ## CPC - C22B 11/042: {Recovery of noble metals from waste materials} - C12N 1/20: Bacteria; Culture media therefor - C12N 1/22: Processes using, or culture media containing, cellulose or hydrolysates thereof - C12N 1/34: Processes using foam culture - C12Q 1/00: Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms (measuring or testing apparatus with condition measuring or sensing means, e.g. colony counters, C12M1/34); Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions - C12Q 1/04: Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor {(C12Q1/6897 takes precedence)} - C22B 3/18: with the aid of microorganisms or enzymes, e.g. bacteria or algae - C22B 3/24: by adsorption on solid substances, e.g. by extraction with solid resins - Y02P 10/20: Recycling - C22B: PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS (electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The invention provides a process of isolating or enriching a heavy metal present in a suspension containing a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal, comprising the following steps: incubating a suspension containing (i) a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal and (ii) biomass comprising a bacterium capable of binding the heavy metal; separating the biomass having bound heavy metal from the suspension of the previous step; and isolating the heavy metal from the biomass separated in the previous step. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process of isolating or enriching a heavy metal present in a suspension containing a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal, comprising a step of incubating a suspension containing (i) a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal and (ii) biomass comprising a bacterium capable of binding the heavy metal; a step of separating the biomass having bound heavy metal from the suspension of the previous step; and a step of isolating the heavy metal from the biomass separated in the previous step; wherein said bacterium is selected from the following genera and species: Pseudochrobactrum, Bacillus pumilus, and Stenotrophomonas or from combinations thereof; and wherein the heavy metal is selected from ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, and/or rare earth metals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein said suspension contains the mineral ore, in the separating step, in an amount of from 1 to 60% (w/w) based on the total weight of the suspension. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process according to claim 2, wherein said suspension contains the ore in an amount of from 10 to 40% (w/w) based on the total weight of the suspension. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the bacterium of genus Pseudochrobactrum is from the species Pseudochrobactrum asaccharolyticum and/or wherein the bacterium of genus Stenotrophomonas is from the species Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein said bacterium is selected from: Pseudochrobactrum asaccharolyticum (DSM-25619), Bacillus pumilus (DSM-27), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (DSM-50170). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein said biomass is or comprises dead biomass. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the incubating step comprises agitating the suspension containing the heavy metal and the biomass for forming a film or foam containing biomass having bound heavy metal; and the separating step comprises removing the film or foam from the suspension. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the incubation step is conducted in a reactor comprising an agitator for agitating the suspension. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein said suspension contains, in the separating step, a cell dry weight of said biomass in an amount of from 0.01 to 20% (w/w) based on the weight of the ore contained in the suspension. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The process according to claim 9, wherein said suspension contains a cell dry weight of said biomass in an amount of from 0.05 to 0.5% (w/w) based on the weight of the ore contained in the suspension. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein said step of incubating is conducted for a period of from 0.5 to 16 hours. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process according to claim 11, wherein said step of incubating is conducted for a period of from 1 to 2 hours. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the heavy metal is silver and/or gold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein said particulate mineral ore contains the heavy metal in an amount of at most 10000 ppm by weight. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process according to claim 14, wherein said particulate ore contains the heavy metal in an amount of at most 1000 ppm by weight. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The process according to claim 14, wherein said particulate ore contains the heavy metal in an amount of at most 100 ppm by weight. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein said particulate mineral ore has a particle size of at most 400 μm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The process according to claim 17, wherein said particulate ore has a particle size of at most 300 μm determined by sieving. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The process according to claim 17, wherein said particulate ore has a particle size of at most 200 μm determined by sieving. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The process according to claim 17, wherein said particulate ore has a particle size of at most 100 μm determined by sieving. ### Claim 21 A process of isolating or enriching a heavy metal present in a suspension containing a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal, comprising a step of incubating a suspension containing (i) a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal and (ii) biomass comprising a bacterium capable of binding the heavy metal; a step of separating the biomass having bound heavy metal from the suspension of the previous step; and a step of isolating the heavy metal from the biomass separated in the previous step; wherein said bacterium is selected from the following genera and species: Pseudochrobactrum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Stenotrophomonas, Bacillus cereus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or from combinations thereof; wherein the heavy metal is selected from ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, and/or rare earth metals, and wherein the incubating step comprises agitating the suspension containing the heavy metal and the biomass for forming a film or foam containing biomass having bound heavy metal; and the separating step comprises removing the film or foam from the suspension.