Co-generation of fuels during copper bioleaching
Year: 2016
Type: report
Abstract: Sulfide minerals comprise more than 1015 kg of the Earth's crust and are used by microbes as a primary energy source and by the mining industry as a source for non-ferrous metals (biomining). These reduced minerals may be an attractive source of energy for liquid fuels production from CO2, but metabolic engineering capabilities for biomining microbes have been limited, preventing industrial use of sulfide minerals as an energy source for chemical production. The goal of this research is to explore the feasibility of the conversion of CO2 to liquid fuels during metal biomining operations. This would represent a new energy source that could be exploited to make carbon neutral biofuels and biochemicals, reducing the need for fossil fuels. This project addresses both Mission Areas of ARPA-E as the co-generation of fuels during copper bioleaching will potentially reduce the import of energy from foreign sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency in the mining industry, and ensure that the U.S. maintains a lead in the development of this disruptive new technology. The results of the project demonstrate the co-generation of fuels is feasible, and current process side-streams produced during mining operations may be the preferred initial feedstock for developing larger-scale demonstrations of the co-generation technology.
DOI: 10.2172/1314992
Authors: Scott Banta, Alan West
Institution: Columbia University
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: U.S. Department of Energy
OpenAlex ID: W4294902505