Solid State Phenomena Vol. 262

Abstract: In a mine owned by the company Orenas S.A. (Equador), a biooxidation process for gold recovery has been developed. Refractory gold ore was crushed, milled and 500 ton of flotation concentrate was agglomerated by coating a support rock. This was piled up on a liner and the biooxidation process in the heap of 35x25x6 m³ was run for approximately 150 days. The oxidized material was subsequently removed for further processing. An outcrop allowed for depth dependent sampling of altogether 36 samples at three sites over the complete depth of 6 m. The fine fraction was removed from the host rock and sent to the laboratory for analysis of the microbial community. The pH ranged between 2.2 and 2.9. Total cell counts determined via counting under a fluorescence microscope after SYBR Green staining indicated a high microbial colonialization of the heap in all depths between 10⁶ to 10⁹ cells per g concentrate, however the highest cell numbers were mainly found in the upper 50 cm. Most-probable-number determination of living, acidophilic iron (II)-oxidizers for one site also revealed a decrease of cell numbers with depth (between 10⁴ to 10⁸ cells per g concentrate). Further molecular analyses of the community composition based on extracted DNA and 16S rRNA gene analyses by TRFLP and qPCR revealed a complex archaeal and bacterial community within the heap. It can be stated that an active community of acidophiles runs the biooxidation process in all sampled parts of the heap.

Abstract: In this study, two black shale copper ores from different Mid-European Kupferschiefer-type deposits and their flotation concentrates were used for bioleaching tests. All samples were subjected to stirred tank bioleaching using an acidophilic, moderately thermophilic microbial consortium. The distribution of sulfides and gangue minerals in the ores, copper concentrates and residues of both, bioleaching and sterile chemical control tests were investigated using EDX-based particle analysis. The black shale ores and the extracted copper concentrates varied in their mineralogical composition with respect to the distribution of sulfides and gangue. While the copper-bearing sulfides in the Sangerhausen black shale and concentrate were dominated by bornite and chalcopyrite, the Rudna black shale and its flotation concentrate were rich in chalcocite and bornite. Differences in the portion of gangue minerals were detected in particular for carbonates that represented the dominant mineral group in the Rudna black shale and its copper concentrate. Distinct Cu dissolution kinetics and recovery rates of Co and other associated metals were observed for the various materials processed by bioleaching. Copper sulfides were completely dissolved also in both black shale ores. However, the sulfide distribution in the bioleaching residues of the Sangerhausen concentrate revealed that a significant portion of chalcopyrite was not leached. Even higher recovery rates for copper and other metals were determined for the bioleaching tests on the Rudna concentrate, in which copper sulfides were nearly completely dissolved. Alteration of copper sulfides and the formation of calcium sulfate were in particular observed in the sterile control residue of the Rudna concentrate, due to excessively use of sulfuric acid for pH stabilization. Lead sulfate precipitates increasingly occurred in the bioleaching residues, but represented also a common secondary phase in the sterile leaching residues.

Abstract: In heap bioleaching, a process in which microorganisms are required for the regeneration of leach reagents and control of reaction products, inaccessibility of non-surface mineral grains is a key cause of low recovery and long extraction times. High resolution, non-destructive 3D X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) is an imaging technique that has been successfully demonstrated for the study of abiotic leaching of non-surface minerals. For this technique to be applied to biotic leaching, it is required that the iron and sulphur oxidizing abilities of the microorganisms are not affected by the irradiation experienced. In the current study, the feasibility of investigating biotic leaching by X-ray μCT is explored by examining the relative energies required to achieve the high image resolution needed for mineral grain mapping while avoiding microbial deactivation. A mixed mesophilic and moderately thermophilic culture in solution was used and exposed to various X-ray energy doses. Direct microscopic cell counting and redox potential were measured to quantify the microbial activity and growth. The results showed that exposure to X-ray does not affect microbial activity at 35-90 kV, 200-280 μA and a distance of 7.2 cm between energy source and sample, however, it has an influence at 120 and 150 kV. This indicates that while X-ray μCT does influence the microbial cultures, it can be used for bioleaching studies at lower energy doses.

Abstract: Solid waste from sulfuric acid production may contain relatively high levels of metals such as Fe, Zn, Co, Cu and As that are harmful if inappropriately disposed of in the environment, but may be a valuable resource if metals can be recovered. The objective of this research was to investigate the pilot-scale acid bioleaching of metals from pyritic ashes, originating from the roasting of pyrite ores for sulfuric acid production and consisting mainly of hematite. Bioleaching was carried out at 25 °C in pilot-scale continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTR), with 50 L working volume in mineral salts medium supplemented with trace elements, 1 % (w/v) elemental sulfur and with pyritic ash pulp densities 10 % and 20 %. The reactors were inoculated with a mixed culture of iron- and sulfur-oxidising acidophiles containing Acidithiobacillus (At.) ferrooxidans, At. thiooxidans/albertensis, At. caldus, Leptospirillum ferrooxidans, Sulfobacillus (Sb.) thermosulfidooxidans, Sb. thermotolerans and some members of Alicyclobacillus genus. Metal leaching yields from pyritic ashes in the CSTR after 32 days were 54.6-56.7 % Cu, 41.7-43.2 % Zn, 1.7-1.8 % Co, 3.0-5.4 % As and 0.3-0.5 % Fe. Solution pH decreased during the experiment from 2.9 to 1.9-2.2. Elemental analysis using X-ray fluorescence showed that the contents of metals, except for As, in the leach residue were below the higher guideline values given in the Government decree on the assessment of the soil contamination and remediation needs by the Ministry of the Environment, Finland. Bioleaching facilitated the extraction of metals from pyritic ashes and the mitigation of environmental risks related to the residue disposal for other metals except for As.

Abstract: Two samples, a Platreef flotation concentrate and coarse ore (<6 mm), were column bioleached at 65°C using a culture dominated by Metallosphaera hakonensis. Based on solution assays, extractions in excess of 90% Cu and Ni were achieved from the flotation concentrate, while from the coarse ore 96% Cu and 67% Ni extractions were achieved. The difference in extraction levels and leaching patterns despite identical conditions used for both samples is discussed, as is the performance of the samples during a follow-up leach step using cyanide to extract the PGMs in a separate column leach experiment. While the recovery of Pd and Au was excellent during these steps, recovery of Pt was limited to 35% after 45 days for the concentrate and 56% after 60 days for the whole ore material, primarily due to the presence of a refractory Pt mineral. Recovery from a concentrate without pre-treatment was substantially lower.

Abstract: When dealing with a low-grade complex Zinc ore from Inner Mongolia, problems of low leaching rate, high energy consumption, low economic benefits and pollution were encountered. To treat this low-grade zinc ore economically and effectively, bioleaching was used. This approach produces reliable data for an environmentally friendly and efficient processing of the zinc ore. The results indicate that Zinc occurs in the ore mainly as sphalerite, the latter also containing Indium. The experimental results demonstrated an excellent leaching performance: A leaching rate of nearly 100% is achieved at a temperature of 45°C, a pulp concentration of 10%, an initial pH of 1.8, and an aeration rate of 0.8m³/h. In the initial stage the leaching rate is higher than at the end. It starts with 85% of zinc leaching rate in three days. The Indium in the sphalerite is leached almost completely. This makes a further comprehensive use of such resources possible.

Abstract: In this study, bioleaching experiments, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were conducted to investigate the intermediates and surface species of bornite leached by mesophilic mixed bacteria of Leptospirillum. ferriphilum and Acidithiobacillus. caldus. Bioleaching experiments results showed that the mixed bacteria induced higher redox potential and significantly increased the copper extractions. In the presence of mesophilic mixed bacteria, bornite bioleaching was not inhibited by jarosite and S₈. The evolution of intermediates during bornite dissolution was proposed: Cu₅FeS₄→ Cu₉Fe₉S₁₆→CuFe₂S₃→CuS→Cu²⁺, the presence of mesophilic mixed bacteria accelerated the dissolution process. XPS spectra showed that the Cu was existed as Cu(I) species in different period, and confirmed that the presence of polysulfide and jarosite.

Abstract: Chemical element analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the two chalcopyrite minerals were of high purity. A mixed culture of moderately thermophiles was used for chalcopyrite bioleaching at 45°C and the copper recovery of chalcopyrite (a) and chalcopyrite (b) was 66.1% and 21.4%, respectively, after 19 days of leaching. Bioleaching behavior of the two different chalcopyrite samples was studied through comparing the lattice parameter and grain size of chalcopyrite. It was shown that lattice parameter and grain size are not the key factors affecting the leaching of chalcopyrite. The corrosion current density of chalcopyrite (a) calculated through Tafel curves was 1.149 μA/cm², while that of chalcopyrite (b) was only 0.5696 μA/cm². The higher corrosion current density suggested that chalcopyrite (a) can be more easily dissolved than chalcopyrite (b).

Abstract: Bioleaching experiments were used in this experiment to study the interaction between marmatite and chalcopyrite. In the sterile system, the copper extraction rate of single chalcopyrite was only 20%, much lower than the copper extraction rate of L. ferriphilum system, which is 95%. The addition of L. ferriphilum can improve the copper extraction rate to a substantial level. In both the sterile and L. ferriphilum system, the single chalcopyrite got a higher copper extraction rate than the mixture minerals of chalcopyrite and marmatite, and with the increase of marmatite, the copper extraction rate decreased. So marmatite may inhibit the dissolution of chalcopyrite. The reason may be that the redox potential of mixture mineral was not in the optimum range.

Abstract: The application of acidophilic iron oxidizing bacteria is an established technique in tank and heap leaching of mainly sulfidic minerals. Even though bioleaching is broadly studied, there are still several issues to solve. Especially, the formation of iron precipitates, leading to co-precipitation of valuable metals, as well as the inhibition due to coating, considerably decrease the leaching efficiency. Consequently, the addition of chelating agents should result in an increased dissolution rate.However, organic acids, which have chelating characteristics, are generally regarded as highly toxic for leaching bacteria. Nonetheless, we found that both the addition of sodium citrate and citric acid leads to an increased iron oxidation rate of 42% and 84%, respectively, compared to standard culture medium without citrate. Chemical leaching tests with ZnS and ferric iron showed similar concentrations of dissolved zinc with and without citrate. However, the actual leaching efficiency is yet to be evaluated.