Citric Catalysis on the Microbiological Leaching of Chalcopyrite Fine Grained Tailings in Shake Flask

Li Dou and Li Dongwei

Abstract：The effect of citric catalysis on the microbiological leaching of chalcopyrite fine grained tailings using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in shake flask under mesophilic cnditions (30±1 ℃) was studied. The test results suggested that citric catalysis and suitable pulp density could extract Cu remarkably better than in absence of catalyst. Once the tolerance is exceeded, the microbial activity would be inhibited. The citric catalyzed the bacteria to accelerate the leaching bioreaction of microbiological leaching but also extracted the Cu (II) directly as a organic acid. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study microscopic changes occurring in chalcopyrite fine grained tailings when the microbiologica leaching medium contained citric catalysis.

"RESEARCH JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY"

Vol. 5(4), November (2010)