[A two-stage technology for bacterial and chemical leaching of copper-zinc raw materials by Fe3+ ions with their subsequent regeneration by chemolithotrophic bacteria]

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol. 2009 Jan-Feb;45(1):64-9.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

A two-stage technology for bacterial and chemical leaching of nonferrous metals in a specifically designed laboratory unit has been proposed. At the first stage of leaching, ferric iron formed during the second stage of oxidation of Fe2+ ions by mesophilic chemolithotrophic microorganisms was used. The optimal parameters of the first stage of the process (flow rate, temperature, and the process duration) were 2 l/h, 75 degrees C, and 2 h, respectively. The results of testing of the two-stage technology for leaching copper-zinc raw materials indicated that the depth of zinc and copper leaching can be increased from 70 to 93% and from 40 to 58.8%, respectively, and the process duration can be reduced from 120 to 24 h as compared to the commonly used one-stage technology.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Acidithiobacillus / metabolism*
  • Bioreactors
  • Cations
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Minerals
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Sulfides / chemistry
  • Temperature
  • Zinc / chemistry*
  • Zinc Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Cations
  • Minerals
  • Sulfides
  • Zinc Compounds
  • Copper
  • Iron
  • Zinc
  • zinc sulfide