The Influence of Pyrite on Galvanic Assisted Bioleaching of Low Grade Chalcopyrite Ores

Abstract:

The experiment focused on the effect of pyrite on the dissolution of the ore from Saindak copper mine in Pakistan. The MLA results showed that the ore mainly consisted of chalcopyrite, which was associated closely with pyrite. The bioleaching process and galvanic promotion experiments of pyrite on the copper extraction were investigated. The data revealed that copper recovery rate could be up to 97.8% after the bioleaching process by extreme thermophilic acidophilic organisms for 30 days at 65 ^OC. The temperature and redox potential were the controlled factors to recover copper from the Saindak mineral. The phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene fragments revealed that organisms related to Metallosphaera cuprina strain Ar-4 and Sulfolobus sp. HB59 were most dominant. Pyrite could accelerate the dissolution of chalcopyrite as one galvanic assistant substance, which would be strengthened by elevating the temperature or in the presence of microorganisms.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 262)
• Pages: 93-98
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.262.93
• Online since: August 2017
• Authors: Biao Wu*, He Shang, Min Lin Wu, Jian Kang Wen
• Keywords: Bioleaching, Chalcopyrite, Extreme Acidophilic Bacteria, Pyrite Galvanic Assistant

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