Abstract:The bioleaching of molybdenum from its sulfide ore using a Mo-resistant thermophilic bacterium sulfolobus metallics combined with a membrane biological reactor (MBR) was studied. The experimental results showed that the concentration of Mo can be controlled by filter of the membrane in MBR and the toxicity of Mo to microorganism is decreased in the process of bioleaching. It was also evidenced that there were different leaching rates of Ni and Mo when the concentration of Mo was different. After leaching for 20 d in the MBR at Mo concentration of 395 mg/L, the leaching rates of Ni and Mo reached the maximum of 79.57% and 56.23% respectively under the conditions of 100 g/L of mineral density, 65 °C, pH=2 and 1.0 L/min of the aeration rate. While 75.59% Ni and 54.33% Mo were leached out in column without membrane under the same conditions.

Key words: membrance biological reactor; nickel-molybdenum sulfide ore; sulfolobus metallics; bioleaching; molybdenum toxicity