The Impact of Heap Self-Heating on Microbial Activity during the Bioleaching of Low-Grade Copper Sulfide Ores

Abstract

In this study, a dynamically-controlled column was used to evaluate two ores known to cause heap overheating. This enabled the simulation of heap self-heating under controlled conditions. The lixiviant was inoculated with a consortia of mesophilic and moderately thermophilic microorgaisms, and the impact of rapid temperature increases on biological activity and cell numbers was evaluated. During the leaching of ore sample A, the temperature lagged for 29 days before increasing rapidly from 26 to 88 °C. Cell numbers and solution potential increased concomitantly, before both were reduced as the temperature increased past maximum microbial tolerances. Cell numbers began increasing again within 10 days of reaching temperatures that would facilitate mesophilic growth being restored. During the leaching of ore B, the temperature lagged for 4 days before exhibiting a rapid increase in temperature, increasing from 30 to 76 °C over a six-day period. Cell numbers were reduced with the sudden temperature increase, and did not recover over the remainder of the experiment.