Photogenerated-hole scavenger for enhancing photocatalytic chalcopyrite bioleaching

The effects of photogenerated-hole scavengers (ascorbic acid, oxalic acid, humic acid and citric acid) on chalcopyrite bioleaching in the presence of visible light were studied using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans). Four sets of bioleaching experiments were performed: (1) visible light + 0 g/L scavenger, (2) visible light + 0.1 g/L of different scavenger (ascorbic acid, oxalic acid, humic acid and citric acid), (3) dark + 0.1 g/L of different scavenger (ascorbic acid, oxalic acid, humic acid and citric acid), and (4) dark + 0 g/L scavenger (control group). The results showed that ascorbic acid and oxalic acid could act as photogenerated-hole scavengers and significantly enhance chalcopyrite bioleaching under visible light. The dissolved copper in the light group without scavenger was only 18.7% higher than that of the control group. The copper extraction rates of the light groups with oxalic acid and ascorbic acid were respectively 30.1% and 32.5% higher than those of the control group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses indicated that ascorbic acid and oxalic acid as photogenerated-hole scavenger could capture photo-generated holes and inhibit jarosite formation on the chalcopyrite surface, thereby enhancing bioleaching of chalcopyrite under visible light.