Bioleaching of Sulphide Minerals with Sulfobacillus acidophilus at 45°C

Abstract:

Copper sulphide ore bioleaching processes are currently under full development in Chile and worldwide, for treatment of: secondary sulphide in heaps [1], low-grade ores in dumps, and concentrates in reactors at high temperatures [2]. Abundant knowledge is available in the literature and great experience has been gathered about the behavior of mesophilic microorganisms and their application in bioleaching of sulfides in heaps and dumps [, as well as, about the behavior of extreme thermophilic microorganisms in reactors [. However, there is little information about the behavior of some moderately thermophilic microorganisms in the dissolution of chalcopyrite and pyrite at 45oC [. This is the case of S. acidophilus, a gram-positive rod shaped that often forms endospores and grow at temperature optima, generally between 45 and 55°C. It has been characterized as a chemolithoheterotrophic bacteria that obtains energy from the oxidation of ferrous iron or from reduced sulfur compounds and that utilizes yeast extracts as a carbon source [. S. acidophilus was isolated by Golovacheva and Karavaiko [ and described by Norris et al. [. Limited literature exists about its participation in bioleaching processes. In this work, we present experimental results obtained from the bioleaching of chalcopyrite and pyrite with S. acidophilus at 45°C, and compare them with those obtained with At. ferrooxidans at 30°C.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 825)
• Pages: 284-287
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.825.284
• Online since: October 2013
• Authors: Blanca Escobar, Daniela Bravo, Indira Jaque, Aldo Collari, T. Vargas
• Keywords: At. ferrooxidans, Bioleaching, Jarosite, Sulfobacilus acidophilus

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