What is Phytomining for kids?
Plants absorb metal ions through their roots in a process called Phytomining . It removes toxic metals from contaminated soil – around old mines for example. The ash would contain a higher concentration of metal than the soil. Phytomining is used to extract copper from soil containing its ore.
What are the benefits of Phytomining?
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
|---|---|
| The process is more environmentally friendly than traditional extraction methods. | Less profit is made from bioleaching which means it is less appealing to buisness men and women. |
What is contained in the ash after plants are burned in Phytomining?
In the process of phytomining plants are grown on top of the low grade ores. The plants absorb the copper(II) ions through their roots. The plants are then harvested and burnt to produce ashes which contain the copper(II) ions, these are then reacted with sulfuric acid producing copper(II) sulfate.
What is the ash mixed with in Phytomining to form a solution?
What is the ash mixed with in phytomining to form a solution? Hydrochloric acid.
How do you do Phytomining?
Phytoextraction (phytomining)
- plants are grown in soil that contains low grade ore.
- the plants absorb metal ions through their roots and concentrate these ions in their cells.
- the plants are harvested and burnt.
- the ash left behind contains metal compounds.
Where is Phytomining used?
In each of these cases there is environmental and social value associated with phytomining. Gold revenue at each location is helping promote management of mercury (Indonesia) and arsenic (China) in mine waste, while in Mexico, phytomining is being used as a mechanism to create employment in poor areas.
Why is Phytomining better than the traditional method?
It is generally accepted that phytomining is greener than conventional mining practices. In environments with metal-contaminated soil, phytominers can re-collect metal pollutants from the soil, thereby restoring the soil to health.
How is Phytomining bad for the environment?
In environments with metal-contaminated soil, phytominers can re-collect metal pollutants from the soil, thereby restoring the soil to health. Industrial farming practices deplete the soil and overgrowing biocrops has the potential to permanently alter an area’s ecology.
What are the stages of Phytomining?
Phytomining has several stages:
- Plants are grown in an area with low grade ores where they take in the minerals through their roots.
- The plants are then burned.
- The ash is added to water and the minerals dissolve in that water.
- Electrolysis is then used to extract the metal from the mineral.
What is leaching and bioleaching?
Direct v. Direct bioleaching uses minerals that are easily receptive to oxidation to create a direct enzymatic strike using the microorganisms to separate the metal and the ore. However, leaching agents are created by microbes, which still oxidise the ore.
Who discovered Phytomining?
Rufus Chaney, an agronomist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 47 years, invented the word “phytomining” in 1983 and with Dr.
Who invented Phytomining?
How are metals ranked in the phytomining series?
The reactivity series ranks metals by how readily they react. More reactive metals displace less reactive metals from their compounds and react with water. Plants absorb metal ions through their roots in a process called Phytomining.
How is phytomining used to extract copper from soil?
The ash would contain a higher concentration of metal than the soil. Phytomining is used to extract copper from soil containing its ore. 1. Plants are used to absorb metal compounds such as copper (II) compounds
What are the disadvantages of phytoextraction in mining?
Give one disadvantage of phytoextraction. It is a slow process. Certain bacteria can break down low-grade ores to produce an acidic solution containing copper ions. The solution is called a leachate and the process is called bioleaching. Iron is more reactive than copper. It can displace copper from the leachate. For example: