Bioleaching of marmatite flotation concentrate by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum f errooxidans

Bioleaching of marmatite flotation concentrate by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans was investigated at 35℃, the initial pH value of 2.0 on an orbital shaker with 160 min^-1 over a period of 10 days. Experimental results indicate that the adapted strains increase markedly the dissolution rate and the leac-hing ratio of marmatite. Pulp density also affects the bioleaching of marmatite. Massive elemental sulfur and jarosite form during the leaching process in the systems inoculating the adapted strains in pure and mixed cultures;and acid product is enhanced, which decreases the pH below to 2.0 in latter leaching period. Marmatite preferentially dis-solves during the bacterial leaching of complex sulfides. Compared with the pure cultures of original and adapted strains, the adapted strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans in mixed cultures are more efficient in the oxidation of marmatite.     

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。     

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%)。     

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.     

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...     

Surface characterization of chalcopyrite interacting with Leptospirillum ferriphilum

The alteration of surface properties of chalcopyrite after biological conditioning with Leptospirillum ferriphilum was studied by adsorption, zeta-potential, contact angle and bioleaching tests. The strains of L. ferriphilum cultured using different energy sources (either soluble ferrous ion or chalcopyrite) were used. The adhesion of bacteria to the chalcopyrite surface was a fast process. Additionally, the adsorption of substrate-grown bacteria was greater and faster than that of liquid-grown ones. The isoelectric point (IEP) of chalcopyrite moved toward that of pure L. ferriphilum after conditioning with bacteria. The chalcopyrite contact angle curves motioned diversely in the culture with or without energy source. The results of X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis indicate that the surface of chalcopyrite is covered with sulfur and jarosite during the bioleaching process by L. ferriphilum. Furthermore, EDS results imply that iron phase dissolves preferentially from chalcopyrite surface during bioleaching. The copper extraction is low, resulting from the formation of a passivation layer on the surface of chalcopyrite. The major component of the passivation layer that blocked continuous copper extraction is sulfur instead of jarosite.     

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.     

微生物浸出Pb-Zn-Sn黄铜矿及其生物群落的演替分析

研究了Pb-Zn-Sn黄铜矿精矿在混合中度嗜热微生物槽浸过程中的细菌群落结构变化,并监测浸出体系中金属离子浓度、溶液电位、溶液pH值变化,通过聚合酶链式反应-限制性片段长度多态性（PCR-RFLP）技术分析微生物群落的结构变化。结果表明,最终铜浸出率高达85.6%,在浸出前期,Acidithiobacillus caldus为优势群落,从第18天开始到浸出结束,Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans为优势群落,但Leptospirillum ferriphilum丰度变化较小。试验结果表明,适当较高的溶液电位和合适的铁离子浓度对黄铜矿精矿的生物浸出作用很关键。     

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.     

Bioleaching of anilite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

In order to characterize the efficiency of copper bioleaching from anilite using pure cultures of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in the absence and presence of ferrous sulphate,the experiments were carried out in shake flasks with or without 4 g/L ferrous sulphate(FeSO_4·7H_2O)at pH 2.0,150 r/min and 35℃.The tests show that Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is unable to attack anilite in iron-free 9K medium.Anilite is rapidly oxidized by bacterial leaching when ferrous sulphate is added.Chemical oxidation o...     

STUDY ON BIOLEACHING OF PRIMARY CHALCOPYRITE ORE WITH THERMOACIDOPHLIC ARCHAE

A high temperature-tolerating thermoacidophilic archae (TA) was isolated from water samples collected from a hot sulfur-containing spring in the Yunnan Province, China, and was used in bioleaching experiments of a low-grade chalcopyrite ore. The TA grow at temperatures ranging from 40 to 80℃, with 65℃ being the optimum temperature, and at pH values of 1.5 to 4.0, with an optimum pH value of 2.0. The bioleaching experiments of the chalcopyrite ore were conducted in both laboratory batch bioreactors and leaching columns. The results obtained from the bioreactor experiments showed that the TA bioleaching rate of copper reached 97% for a 12-day leaching period, while the bioleaching rate was 32.43% for thiobacillus ferrooxidans (Tf) leaching for the same leaching time. In the case of column leaching, tests of a two-phase leaching (196 days), that is,a two-month (56 days) Tf leaching in the first phase, followed by a 140-day TA leaching in the second phase were performed. The average leaching rate of copper achieved for the 140-day TA leaching was 195mg/(L· d), while for the control experiments, it was as low as 78mg/(L· d) for the Tf leaching, indicating that the TA possesses a more powerful oxidizing ability to the chalcopyrite than Tf. Therefore, it is suggested that the two-phase leaching process be applied to for the heap leaching operations, whereas, the TA can be used in the second phase when the temperature inside the heap has increased, and the primary copper sulfide minerals have already been partially oxidized with Tf beforehand in the first phase.     

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.     

Study on bioleaching of primary chalcopyrite ore with thermoacidophilic archae

A high temperature-tolerating thermoacidophilic archae （TA） was isolated from water samples collected from a hot sulfur-containing spring in the Yunnan Province, China, and was used in bioleaching experiments of a low-grade chalcopyrite ore. The TA grow at temperatures ranging from 40 to 80℃, with 65℃ being the optimum temperature, and at pH values of l.5 to 4.0, with an optimum pH value of 2.0. The bioleaching experiments of the chalcvpyrite ore were conducted in both laboratory batch bioreactors and leaching columns. The results obtained from the bioreactor experiments showed that the TA bioleaching rate of copper reached 97% for a 12-day leaching period, while the bioleaching rate was 32.43% for thiobacillus ferrooxidans （Tf） leaching for the same leaching time. In the case of column leaching, tests of a two-phase leaching （196 days）, that is, a two-month （56 days） Tf leaching in the first phase, followed by a 140-day TA leaching in the second phase were performed. The average leaching rate of copper achieved for the 140-day TA leaching was 195mg/（L.d）, while for the control experiments, it was as low as 78mg/（L .d） for the Tf leaching, indicating that the TA possesses a more powerful oxidizing ability to the chalcopyrite than Tf Therefore, it is suggested that the two-phase leaching process be applied to .for the heap leaching operations, whereas, the TA can be used in the second phase when the temperature inside the heap has increased, and the primary copper sulfide minerals have already been partially oxidized with Tf beforehand in the first phase.     

生物浸出过程中黄铜矿钝化的控制方法(英文)

在细菌浸出黄铜矿的过程中,黄铜矿表面钝化是普遍现象,成为生物浸铜技术的瓶颈问题。对比研究了普通浸出与强化浸出(加入玻璃圆珠)对铜浸出的影响。结果表明,玻璃圆珠的加入改善了浸出条件,削弱了黄铜矿的钝化效应,使黄铜矿的Cu浸出率从50%提升至 89.8%。扫描电镜(SEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)分析发现,添加玻璃圆珠的黄铜矿表面没有黄钾铁矾沉淀,钝化作用不明显;而不加玻璃圆珠的黄铜矿表面附着厚厚的结构致密的黄钾铁矾,钝化严重,从而阻碍了黄铜矿的溶解和浸出。     

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.     

Catalytic effect of activated carbon on bioleaching of low-grade primary copper sulfide ores

The catalytic effect of activated carbon on the bioleaching of low-grade primary copper sulfide ores using mixture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans was investigated. The results show that the addition of activated carbon can greatly accelerate the rate and efficiency of copper dissolution from low-grade primary copper sulfide ores. The solution with the concentration of 3.0 g/L activated carbon is most beneficial to the dissolution of copper. The resting time of the mixture of activated carbon and ores has an impact on the bioleaching of low-grade primary copper sulfide ores. The 2 d resting time is most favorable to the dissolution of copper. The enhanced dissolution rate and efficiency of copper can be attributed to the galvanic interaction between activated carbon and chalcopyrite. The addition of activated carbon obviously depresses the dissolution of iron and the bacterial oxidation of ferrous ions in solution. The lower redox potentials are more favorable to the copper dissolution than the higher potentials for low-grade primary copper sulfide ores in the presence of activated carbon.     

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.     

Effect of Cu 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 ofAcidithiobacillusferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Lepthospirillumferrooxidans. 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, elemental sulfur and jarosite forms on the mineral surface. The biooxidation of elemental sulfur is catalyzed by the Cu^2＋ ions, which eliminate the barrier to bioleaching of marmatite and keep low pH value. With the addition of 0.5 g/L Cu^2＋ ions, the maximum zinc extraction rate reaches 73% after 23 d at the temperature of 30 ℃ with the pulp density of 10%, while that of iron is only about 10%.     

Bioleaching of pyrite by A. ferrooxidans and L. ferriphilum

Pyrite oxidation rates were examined under various conditions in the presence of A.ferrooxidans and L.ferriphilum,in which different pulp concentration,inoculation amount,external addition of Fe3+ and initial pH value were performed.It is found that A.ferrooxidans and L.ferriphilum show similar behaviors in the bioleaching process.The increasing pulp concentration decreases the leaching rate of iron,and external addition of high concentration Fe3+ is also adverse to leaching pyrite.The increased inoculation amount and high initial pH value are beneficial to leaching pyrite,and these changed conditions bring more obvious effects on leaching pyrite by L.ferriphilum than by A.ferrooxidans.The results also show that adjusting the pH values in leaching process baffles leaching pyrite due to the formed jarosite.Jarosite formed in leaching process was observed using XRD,SEM and energy spectrum analysis,and a considerable amount of debris with a crystalline morphology is present on the surface of pyrite.The results imply that the indirect action is more important for bioleaching pyrite.     

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.