Bioleaching of Cu and Zn from Complex Sulfide using an Isolated Iron Oxidizing Bacteria

Abstract

Bioleaching kinetics of copper and zinc from a complex sulfide concentrate sample was evaluated in this manuscript. An acidophilic microorganism was used for the metal dissolution. The metal dissolution was evaluated based on the variation of leaching parameters like initial pH, pulp density, and initial ferrous concentration. The leaching rate of metals increased with the increase of initial ferrous concentration up to 20g/L, and it decreased on a further increase of the initial ferrous concentration. It decreased at the initial ferrous concentration above 20g/L due to the formation of an iron precipitate, which did not allow the contact of lixiviant with the metal sulfide matrix. The leaching rate increased with the increase of initial pH up to 2.0, and thereafter it decreased. Similarly, the leaching rate remained unchanged up to pulp density of 15%(w/v), and it decreased upon further increase of the pulp density due to the mutual completion of the complex sulfide particles towards the lixiviants.