Mine waste research receives funding.

A South American mine waste research project involving BacTech Environmental and Sudbury's Laurentian University recently received a funding jolt.

The Toronto-based company announced in early May that a joint application with Laurentian to Ontario Centres of Excellence has been approved for $75,000.

BacTech has developed a bioleaching or bio-oxidation technology (BACOX) that uses naturally occurring bacteria to draw out metals and stabilize arsenic found in historic tailings.

The company wants to test bioleaching to treat very high arsenic concentrates being produced by artisanal gold miners in the Ponce Enrique area of Ecuador.

A 300-kilogram sample of arsenopyrite concentrate will be taken from the flotation plants in Ponce Enriquez and shipped to Laurentian University for five to six months of bioleach test work.

The results will form the basis of the design for the proposed bioleach plant in that country.

BacTech is making contributions in the amounts of $37,500 cash and $37,500 in kind.

Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk of Laurentian's Living with Lakes environmental research centre will oversee the work. Her knowledge centres on using bioleaching technology for improved metal recovery and remediation of mine wastes.

A BacTech news...