Industrial heap bioleaching of copper sulfide ore started with only water irrigation
Jia Y, Sun H, Tan Q, Xu J, Feng X, Ruan R (2021)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2021
Journal
Book Volume: 11
Article Number: 1299
Journal Issue: 11
DOI: 10.3390/min11111299
Abstract
Sulfuric acid solution containing ferric iron is the extractant for industrial heap bioleaching of copper sulfides. To start a heap bioleaching plant, sulfuric acid is usually added to the irrigation solution to maintain adequate acidity (pH 1.0–2.0) for copper dissolution. An industrial practice of heap bioleaching of secondary copper sulfide ore that began with only water irrigation without the addition of sulfuric acid was successfully implemented and introduced in this manuscript. The mineral composition and their behavior related to the production and consumption of sulfuric acid during the bioleaching in heaps was analyzed. This indicated the possibility of self-generating of sulfuric acid in heaps without exogenous addition. After proving by batches of laboratory tests, industrial measures were implemented to promote the sulfide mineral oxidation in heaps throughout the acidifying stages, from a pH of 7.0 to 1.0, thus sulfuric acid and iron was produced especially by pyrite oxidation. After acidifying of the heaps, adapted microbial consortium was inoculated and established in a leaching system. The launch of the bioleaching heap and finally the production expansion were realized without the addition of sulfuric acid, showing great efficiency under low operation costs.
Involved external institutions
China (CN)How to cite
APA:
Jia, Y., Sun, H., Tan, Q., Xu, J., Feng, X., & Ruan, R. (2021). Industrial heap bioleaching of copper sulfide ore started with only water irrigation. Minerals, 11(11). https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/min11111299
MLA:
Jia, Yan, et al. "Industrial heap bioleaching of copper sulfide ore started with only water irrigation." Minerals 11.11 (2021).
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