Alexander Bely

Currently JSC Polyus is the copyright holder of patented technologies for bacterial processing of refractory gold-bearing sulfide ore concentrates, a patent protected association of microorganisms performing this process, and the process technology itself is protected by the BIONORD trademark. The process of biooxidation of the concentrate is focused on the unique ratio of sulfide minerals in the ore of the Olympiada deposit. It should be noted the high content of the carbonate component in the ore and the high content of pyrrhotite, the presence of antimony sulfides. This makes special demands on the process of obtaining concentrates and the technology of conducting the biooxidation process itself. A feature of the process is the rapid oxidation of pyrrhotite with the release of a significant amount of heat and intense heating of the pulp in bioreactors. The subsequent additional oxidation of arsenopyrite and pyrite proceeds with less heat release. At present, the Olympiada Gold Plant is one of the world's largest factories for the processing of refractory gold-arsenic ores using bacterial oxidation of concentrates, processing up to 13.4 million tons of ore per year and producing up to 30 tons of gold per year. This report presents the main results of research and testing on the industrial development of the technology of biooxidation of primary ore concentrates of the Olympiada deposit in 2001 - 2021. The stages of development for the intensification of production for work in a highly productive and stable mode are shown.