Comparative study on bioleaching of two different types of low-grade copper tailings by mixed moderate thermophiles

The bioleaching of two different types of low-grade copper tailings, acid-leaching tailings (ALT) and copper flotation tailings (CFT) by mixed moderate thermophiles, and the variation of mineralogical and microbiological characteristics during their dissolution processes were comparatively investigated. Results showed that bioleaching behaviors of the two types of tailings were significantly different. In ALT bioleaching, lower redox potential, higher [Fe³⁺]/[Fe²⁺] ratio and higher cell density in solution were obtained. These resulted in higher total copper, primary copper sulfide and secondary copper sulfide extractions, compared with CFT bioleaching. X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that gypsum and some metal organic complexes were detected in CFT bioleaching, which could cause the sluggish oxidation of sulphide minerals. The shifts of microbial community in the leachates and leaching residues varied greatly between ALT and CFT bioleaching. The percentage of iron-oxidizing bacteria in ALT bioleaching was higher than that of CFT, but the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria percentage was the opposite. The archaeon F. thermophilum L1 was detected in ALT but not in CFT.     

Bacterial leaching of chalcopyrite and bornite with native bioleaching microorganism

A native mesophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, has been isolated （30 ℃） from a typical, lead-zinc concentrate of Dachang Mine in the region of Liuzhou located in the southwest of China. Two typical copper sulfide minerals, chalcopyrite and bornite, were from Meizhou Copper Mine in the region of Guangdong Province, China. Variation of pH and cell growth on time and effects of some factors such as temperature, inoculation cell number, and pulp density on the bioleaching of chalcopyrite and bornite were investigated. The results obtained from the bioleaching experiments indicate that the efficiency of copper extraction depends on all of the mentioned variables, especially the pulp density has more effect than the other factors on the microorganism. In addition, the results show that the maximum copper recovery was achieved using a mesophilic culture. The copper dissolution reached 51.34% for the chalcopyrite while it was 72.35% for the bornite at pH 2.0, initial Fe（ Ⅱ ） concentration 9 g/L and pulp density 5%, after 30 d.     

Relatedness between catalytic effect of activated carbon and passivation phenomenon during chalcopyrite bioleaching by mixed thermophilic Archaea culture at 65 °C

The relatedness between catalytic effect of activated carbon and passivation phenomenon during chalcopyrite bioleaching by mixed thermophilic Archaea culture (Acidianus brierleyi, Metallosphaera sedula, Acidianus manzaensis and Sulfolobus metallicus) at 65 °C was studied. Leaching experiments showed that the addition of activated carbon could significantly promote the dissolution of chalcopyrite for both bioleaching and chemical leaching. The results of synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction, iron L-edge and sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy indicated that activated carbon could change the transition path of electrons through galvanic interactions to form more readily dissolved secondary mineral chalcocite at a low redox potential (<400 mV) and then enhanced the copper dissolution. Jarosite accumulated immediately in the initial stage of bioleaching with activated carbon but copper dissolution was not hindered. However, much jarosite precipitated on the surface of chalcopyrite in the late stage of bioleaching, which might account for the decrease of copper dissolution rate. More elemental sulfur (S⁰) was also detected with additional activated carbon but the mixed thermophilic Archaea culture had a great sulfur oxidation activity, thus S⁰ was eliminated and seemed to have no significant influence on the dissolution of chalcopyrite.     

Simulated small-scale pilot heap leaching of low-grade copper sulfide ore with selective extraction of copper

The bioleaching of low-grade copper sulfide ore and the selective extraction of copper were investigated. Lix984 dissolved in kerosene was used as extractant. The results show that it is possible to selectively leach copper from the ores by heap leaching. The copper concentration of leaching liquor after 250 d is 2.17 g/L, and the copper concentration is 0.27 g/L after solvent extraction. The leach liquor was subjected to solvent extraction, scrubbing and selective stripping for the enrichment of copper and the removal of impurities. The pregnant copper sulfate solution produced from the stripping cycle is suitable for copper electro-winning.     

低品位硫化铜矿的细菌浸出

以宁夏某低品位硫化铜矿为研究对象,利用嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans)和嗜酸氧化硫硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillusthiooxidans)的混合菌,采用摇瓶浸出、小型柱浸和大型柱浸对矿石可浸性进行研究;采用X射线衍射仪分析矿物及其浸渣的成分;采用扫描电镜分析浸渣表面形貌及其表面元素的含量.结果表明摇瓶矿浆浓度为5%,浸出55d铜浸出率为94.38%;小型柱浸处理矿石2.10kg,矿石粒度小于15mm,浸出226d铜浸出率为62.50%;大型柱浸处理矿石77.85kg,矿石粒度小于25mm,浸出285d铜浸出率为50.63%.柱浸过程中,铜的浸出速率逐渐下降;浸渣中钙含量基本不变,而元素硫的含量明显增加,且存在新的石膏相;浸出后矿石表面元素硫、钙、铁的含量明显增加,在浸出过程中生成的硫酸钙结晶覆盖在矿石表面,铁在矿石表面形成沉淀,使矿石的渗透性变差,导致铜的浸出率逐渐下降.     

Bioleaching of chalcopyrite by pure and mixed culture

The bioleaching of chalcopyrite in shake flasks was investigated by using pure Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans and mixed culture isolated from the acid mine drainage in Yushui and Dabaoshan Copper Mine in China, marked as YS and DB, respectively. The mixed culture consisted mainly of Acidithiobacillus fOrrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, and Leptospirillum spp. （Leptospirillum ferriphilum and Leptospirillum ferrooxians）. The results show that the mixed culture is more efficient than the pure Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans because of the presence of the sulfur-oxidizing cultures that positively increase the dissolution rate and the recovery of copper from chalcopyrite. The pH value decreases with the decrease of chalcopyrite leaching rate, because of the formation ofjarosite as a passivation layer on the mineral surface during bioleaching. In the bioleaching using the mixed culture, low pH is got from the sulfur oxidizing inhibiting, the formation ofjarosite. The copper extraction reaches 46.27% in mixed culture and 30.37% in pure Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans after leaching for 75 d.     

Bioleaching of low-grade copper sulphides

The bioleaching behavior of low-grade copper sulphides under the condition of preferential solution flow was investigated through experiments. ,The experiment of bioleaching was conducted within the multifunction autocontrol bioleaching apparatus. The results show that the concentrations of Cu^2＋ and total Fe increase slowly at the beginning. The recovery rate decreases with the increase of depth of dump. The preferential solution happens within the fine region when the application rate is low, and the recovery rate of the fine region is higher than that of the coarse region. The content of fine ore particles within both fine and coarse regions increases during the leaching period, and the preferential solution flow shifts from fine region to coarse region. The surface of the ores at the top of dump is attacked seriously, and the ores in the middle is attacked slightly. There are plenty of crackles on the surface of bottom ores because of the precipitation layer on the surface.     

Microbial aspects of acid mine drainage and its bioremediation

The role of chemolithotrophs such as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans which were isolated from some abandoned mines and processed waste tailings in the generation of acid mine drainage and toxic metal dissolution was discussed. Mechanisms of acid formation and dissolution of copper, zinc, iron and arsenic from copper, lead-zinc and arsenopyrite-bearing sulfide ores and railings were established in the presence of Acidithiobacillus group of bacteria. Sulphate Reducing Bacteria（SRB） isolated from the above mine sites could be used to precipitate dissolved metals such as copper, zinc, iron and arsenic. Arsenic bioremediation was demonstrated through the use of native microorganisms such Thiomonas spp. which could oxidize arsenite to arsenate. Bioremoval of arsenic through the use of jarosite precipitates generated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans was also found to be very effective. Biotechnological processes hold great promise in the remediation of acid mine drainage and efficient removal of toxic metal ions such as copper, zinc and arsenic.     

Effects of microorganisms on surface properties of chalcopyrite and bioleaching

The alteration of surface properties of chalcopyrite after biological conditioning with Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus caldus was evaluated by Zeta-potential, adsorption studies, FT-IR spectra and contact angle measurement. The Zeta-potential studies show that the iso-electric point（IEP） of chalcopyrite after bacterial treatment moves towards the IEP of pure cells, indicating the adsorption of cells on chalcopyrite surface. The FT-IR spectra of chalcopyrite treated with bacterial cells show the presence of the cell functional groups signifying cells adsorption. Due to the formation of elemental sulfur and intermediate copper sulphides on chalcopyrite surface, the contact angle and surface hydrophohicity of chalcopyrite increase at the initial bioleaching stage. Chalcopyrite bioleaching by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans has higher copper extraction, which agrees with the fact that Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans adsorbed on chalcopyrite surface is much more than Acidithiobacillus caldus. The results support the direct mechanism of sulfide oxidations in bioleaching chalcopyrite.     

Single and cooperative bioleaching of sphalerite by two kinds of bacteria —— Acidithiobacillus ferriooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

A cooperative bioleaching （Acidithiobacillus ferriooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans） and single bioleaching （Acidithiobacillus ferriooxidans or Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans） of sphalerite were investigated by X-ray diffractometry, energy dispersive spectrography and scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results show that the leaching rate of zinc in the mixed culture is higher than that in pure culture and the sterile control. In these processes, two kinds of bacteria perform different functions and play a cooperative role during leaching of sphalerite. The bioleaching action carded out by Acidithiobacillus ferriooxidans （.4. ferriooxidans） is not directly performed through Fe^2＋ but Fe^3＋, and its role is to oxidize Fe^2＋ to Fe ^3＋ and maintain a high redox potential. Moreover, the addition of an appropriate concentration of ferric iron to the leaching systems is beneficial to zinc dissolution. In the leaching systems without Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans （.A. thiooxidans）, elemental sulfur layers are formed on mineral surface during the dissolution of zinc and block continuous leaching. Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, however, eliminate the passivation and cause the bioleaching process to continue in the leaching systems. At the same time, protons from the bacterial oxidization of the elemental sulfur layers also accelerate the leaching of zinc.     

Dominance of Acidithiobacillus at ore surface of Zijinshan commercial low-grade copper bioleaching heap

The microbial community structure in the ore surface of Zijinshan commercial low-grade copper bioleaching heap was investigated by 16S rRNA gene clone library.For both bacteria and Archaea,105 clones were sequenced.The dominant bacteria species present in the ore surface were Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum,accounting for 51.42% and 48.57%,respectively. However,for the Archaea,only one operational taxonomic unit(OUT)belonged to Ferroplasma acidiphilum.These results indicate that function of genus Ac...     

生物因素对次生硫化铜矿堆浸过程动力学的影响

假定生物浸出过程细菌的作用是间接作用,以实验室柱浸模拟次生硫化铜矿生物堆浸,基于细菌生长Monod方程及收缩核模型建立细菌生长动力学因子影响硫化矿浸出速率的动力学模型,研究铜浸出速率、溶液总铁、溶液中细菌浓度与时间的关系、细菌产出率和细菌饱和系数对浸出速率影响的动力学规律。动力学研究表明,在浸出早期,氧化浸出速率、溶液中总铁浓度以及溶液中的细菌数量增长较快,而在浸出后期则增长较慢。计算与实际结果表明,细菌最大生长比速率、细菌产出率、细菌饱和常数及溶液中Fe离子的浓度均对硫化矿的氧化浸出速率有明显影响,尤其在浸出早期影响较大。应用动力学模型仿真结果与实际基本符合,可分析生物因素对浸出的影响趋势。     

Intensified bioleaching of low-grade molybdenite concentrate by ferrous sulfate and pyrite

Intensifying effects of ferrous sulfate and pyrite on bioleaching of low-grade molybdenite concentrate were studied in this paper. The experimental results show that the oxidation dissolution of molybdenite can be accelerated with the addition of either ferrous sulfate or pyrite in bioleaching medium. Pyrite has better enhancing effect than ferrous sulfate, and the highest molybdenum leaching rate in pyrite-added solutions is 20.85%, increasing by 12.64% compared with that in 9K leaching system. Molybdenum leaching rate does not increase linearly with the increase of the addition of either ferrous sulfate or pyrite in each type solution. Great amounts of [NH4Fe3(SO4)2(OH)6] and[KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6] with different morphologies will be deposited on molybdenite ores when the additions of Fe from ferrous sulfate or pyrite exceed that from 9K leaching system by 0.5 times, and these deposits hinder the oxidation dissolution of molybdenite to some extent.     

元素硫对黄铜矿生物浸出行为及群落结构的影响(英文)

研究3种典型铁/硫代谢菌—Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,Leptospirillum ferriphilum及Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans混合浸出黄铜矿过程中铁/硫氧化活性、群落结构(PCR-RFLP)的变化,以及不同浓度的元素硫对其影响。结果发现,加入3.193g/L元素硫能促进细菌的表观硫氧化活性,改变浸矿体系的群落结构,并进一步影响钝化层的形成、金属离子的溶出,其浸出率(71%)较未添加硫的(67%)有一定程度的提高。而过量的元素硫会抑制铜的浸出(浸出率44%)。     

Control of redox potential by oxygen limitation in selective bioleaching of chalcocite and pyrite

Based on the bioleaching mechanism and electrochemical studies of metal sulfides, the dissolution rates of chalcocite and pyrite are controlled by redox potentials. Experiment on the bioleaching of chalcocite and pyrite under constant redox potential by sparging with nitrogen gas was demonstrated. By leaching at low and constant redox potential（〈760 mV, vs SHE）, copper recoveries of 90 %–98 % are achieved, which are 10 times more than iron recoveries. The iron-oxidizing bacterial populations are observed to continue to reduce under oxygen limitation conditions, but the Acidithiobacillus that have only sulfur-oxidizing capabilities are an attractive alternative for redox-controlled bioleaching of chalcocite.Thus, the described redox control technique might be one of the effective approaches to balance acid and iron in Zijinshan copper bio-heap leaching practice.     

Microbial community structure and function in sulfide ore bioleaching systems

The severe current situation facing to minerals processing is that the most minerals are characterized by low-grade, being complex and very hard to deal with. It is necessary to find a new way to solve these questions. Nowadays, biohydrometallurgy draw more and more attention because of its simple process, low cost and kindness to environment. However, the lack of suitable bacteria and hard research on the mechanisms between the bacteria and ores or bacteria in gene level result in the low efficiency and poor yield of the target metal in bioleaching. Therefore, the understanding of the microbial community structure and function in the bioleaching systems is very important for the optimization of microbial community by controlling the operating conditions in bioleaching systems, thus enhancing the leaching rate. A review is given on the achievements and progress related to the study on microbial community structure and function in sulfide ore bioleaching systems made in our research group.     

绢云母对黄铜矿微生物浸出的影响

采用以Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans为主的混合菌,研究绢云母对微生物浸出黄铜矿的影响。结果表明,铜的浸出率随着绢云母粒度的减小而增加,随着绢云母质量分数的增加而呈先升高后降低的趋势。在添加粒度为-33μm、质量分数为5.0%的绢云母时,铜的最高浸出率为54.88%,比不添加绢云母时的铜浸出率提高了约12%,表明绢云母能促进黄铜矿的微生物浸出。绢云母的加入可使浸出体系pH值降低,最终pH值低于1.22。在浸出过程中,新生成的物质主要是铵黄铁矾,它覆盖于黄铜矿的表面,对微生物浸出铜有一定的阻碍作用。     

高效浸矿混合菌种的筛选及其在浸矿过程中的微生物群落结构演变

为了筛选可高效浸出低品位硫化矿的混合菌株,从10个典型的硫化矿矿区的酸性矿坑水中分离富集到混合菌株。以浸出率作为筛选的主要标准,筛选后的高效菌株,利用群落基因组芯片分析混合菌群的组成和过程变化。浸矿持续进行24d后,采集自江西德兴银山铅锌矿的混合菌浸出率最高,为68.89%。群落基因组芯片结果表明银山菌群包含9种菌,可被分为6类,在浸出过程中群落始终在变化。该研究为加速浸出和了解浸出过程中群落演替提供了一个较好的方法。     

Effect of Cu~(2+)ions on bioleaching of marmatite

The effect of Cu~(2+)ions on bioleaching of marmatite was investigated through shake leaching experiments.The bacteria inoculated are a mixed culture ofAcidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Lepthospirillum ferrooxidans.The results show that zinc is selectively leached,and the addition of appropriate content of Cu~(2+)ions has positive effect on the bioleaching of marmatite.SEM and EDX analyses of the leaching residue reveal that a product layer composed of iron sulfide, element...     

Thermodynamic properties of bioleaching liquid mixtures with and without mesophilic bacteria at different temperatures

In this work, low-grade copper sulfide mine has been treated by the bioleaching process using native cultures of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The bioleaching experiments were carried out in shake flasks at pH 2.0, 180 r·min-1 and 30°C for mesophilic bacteria. The conductivity of copper bioleaching liquid was determined by the electric conductivity method at temperatures ranging from 298 K to 313 K. The ionic activity coefficients were estimated using Debye-Hücker and Osager-Falkenlagen equations. Meanwhile, the effects of temperature and concentration on the mean ionic activity co efficients were discussed. The relative partial molar free energies, enthalpies and entropies of copper leaching solution at above experimental temperatures were calculated The behaviors of change of relative partial molar quantities were dis cussed on the basis of electrolytic solution theory. Simultaneously, the thermodynamic characters of bioleaching solution with and without mesophilic bacteria were compared. The existence of mesophilic bacteria changed the Fe3 /Fe2 ratio, which resulted in the difference of ionic interaction. The experimental data show that the determination of the thermody namic properties during the bioleaching processes should be important