A Column Leaching Model of Low-Grade Chalcopyrite Ore: Mineral Preferences and Chemical Reactivity
2020
Heike Bostelmann | Gordon Southam
Bioleaching models to examine copper extraction from low-grade chalcopyrite ores were set up to identify the influence of pyrite on leaching efficacy. A combination of scanning electron microscopy and geochemical analysis showed that extraction was marginally enhanced by the addition of pyrite when using a combination of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans, an iron oxidiser, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, a sulphur oxidising species and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, an iron and sulphur oxidiser. Extensive biofilms formed on the pyrite surfaces (>:106 cells/mm2) but were severely limited on chalcopyrite, possessing approximately the same number of cells as quartz grains, an internal non-nutrient control &ldquo:substrate&rdquo: (with ca. 2 ×: 103 cells/mm2). The presence of dissolved copper did not inhibit the growth of this consortium. Indirect &ldquo:bioleaching&rdquo: of chalcopyrite appears to be limited by proton activity at the chalcopyrite surface.
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