Abstract
The current work was off-shoot of an attempt to isolate a thermophilic pyritic sulfur degrading bacteria in selective medium from a coal mine dump. This thermophilic bacteria (archaea) classified as Sulfolobus was tested for its feasibility to bioleach copper from a low grade Indian chalcopyrite ore (0.3% copper). With its prevalent ability to pref- erentially attack pyrite (a major phase in the ore), bioleaching was investigated at various parameters of pH, pulp density (PD), particle size, and temperature. A reflective high 85% copper recovery was obtained using <50 µm particles at 20% (w/w) pulp density, pH 2.0, 75 ◦C in 30 days. The copper dissolution was facilitated by iron (III) available in the leach liquor because of bacterial oxidation of pyrite present in the ore under acidic conditions. The biogenically generated Fe (III) ions enhanced copper dissolution from the chalcopyrite ore. The bioleaching of copper appeared to follow chemical control kinetic model with the reaction of lixiviant-Fe (III) and acid on the surface of the solid. Phase identification by XRD and SEM study corroborated the above mechanism of copper leaching.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
