Estudos físico-químicos e de lixiviação de calcopirita (CuFeS.IND.2) por Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
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Data
2010-06-18
Autores
Arena, Fabiana Antonia [UNESP]
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
A mineração é um dos segmentos mais importantes da economia por estar diretamente relacionada à obtenção de metais de base destinados a diversos tipos de indústrias. No entanto, os resíduos da atividade mineralógica tem se tornado um crescente problema ambiental, principalmente quando os mesmos são sulfetos minerais altamente refratários. A calcopirita (CuFeS2) é um dos sulfetos minerais de baixo teor mais abundantes na natureza devido à sua elevada refratariedade, ocasionada por motivos ainda controversos na literatura. Dentre as várias razões propostas para a refratariedade da calcopirita destacam-se a formação de camadas de enxofre e jarositas (precipitados de ferro) durante a oxidação da mesma. A recuperação de cobre a partir da calcopirita pode ser alcançada com sucesso através dos processos pirometalúrgicos convencionais. No entanto, os mesmos apresentam desvantagens relacionadas ao alto custo e a poluição ambiental. Dentro desse contexto, surge a biolixiviação que é um processo de recuperação de metais ambientalmente amigável através do qual o sulfeto mineral é dissolvido pela ação de bactérias capazes de utilizá-lo como fonte energética para suas atividades metabólicas. A principal bactéria envolvida nos processos de biolixiviação é a Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans capaz de utilizar sulfetos minerais como fonte energética e oxidar íons ferrosos a férricos (outro potencial oxidante de sulfetos minerais). Outra bactéria importante é a Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans capaz de utilizar enxofre elementar como fonte energética sendo, portanto, interessante para utilização em consórcios com a A. ferrooxidans. Nos ensaios de biolixiviação também podem ser empregados agentes capazes de acelerar ou melhorar o processo de dissolução de sulfetos minerais. Dentre esses agentes merecem destaque os íons cloreto, capazes de modificar a camada...
The mining is one of the most important economic activities because it is directly related with the recovery of base metals destined to several kinds of industry. This is the case of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) the most abundant sulfide mineral present in the nature due to its high refractory, the reasons of the low dissolution rate for chalcopyrite are not convergent in the literature but a lot of experimental evidences show the formation of elemental sulfur and jarosites (iron precipitates) during the oxidation of this mineral sulfide. The copper recovery from chalcopyrite can be easily attained utilizing conventional mining processes but it can have disadvantages related with the high costs and environmental pollution. In this context, the bioleaching, is an environmentally friendly process that uses micro-organisms to recover metals from low grade mineral ores. The main microorganism involved in bioleaching is the bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans that can use mineral ores as energy source and can oxidize Fe2+ to Fe3+(another potential oxidant of mineral sulfides). Another important bacteria is Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans that have the capacity of utilize elemental sulfur as energy source, being interesting to act in consortia with A. ferrooxidans. In the bioleaching experiments it can be employed agents capable to accelerate or improve the dissolution of mineral sulfides. Among these agents deserve distinction the chloride ions capable of changing the sulfur layer formed during the chalcopyrite oxidation and the citric acid able of complex the jarosite formed during the process. In the present work leaching experiments in bioreactors and stirring flasks was done utilizing a chalcopyrite flotation concentrate. In the stirring flasks experiments were done successive addictions of chloride ions through increments of 0.05 or 0.1 mol L-1. The copper recovery percentage was low in both... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
The mining is one of the most important economic activities because it is directly related with the recovery of base metals destined to several kinds of industry. This is the case of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) the most abundant sulfide mineral present in the nature due to its high refractory, the reasons of the low dissolution rate for chalcopyrite are not convergent in the literature but a lot of experimental evidences show the formation of elemental sulfur and jarosites (iron precipitates) during the oxidation of this mineral sulfide. The copper recovery from chalcopyrite can be easily attained utilizing conventional mining processes but it can have disadvantages related with the high costs and environmental pollution. In this context, the bioleaching, is an environmentally friendly process that uses micro-organisms to recover metals from low grade mineral ores. The main microorganism involved in bioleaching is the bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans that can use mineral ores as energy source and can oxidize Fe2+ to Fe3+(another potential oxidant of mineral sulfides). Another important bacteria is Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans that have the capacity of utilize elemental sulfur as energy source, being interesting to act in consortia with A. ferrooxidans. In the bioleaching experiments it can be employed agents capable to accelerate or improve the dissolution of mineral sulfides. Among these agents deserve distinction the chloride ions capable of changing the sulfur layer formed during the chalcopyrite oxidation and the citric acid able of complex the jarosite formed during the process. In the present work leaching experiments in bioreactors and stirring flasks was done utilizing a chalcopyrite flotation concentrate. In the stirring flasks experiments were done successive addictions of chloride ions through increments of 0.05 or 0.1 mol L-1. The copper recovery percentage was low in both... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Química tecnológica, Lixiviação bacteriana, Bioleaching
Como citar
ARENA, Fabiana Antonia. Estudos físico-químicos e de lixiviação de calcopirita (CuFeS.IND.2) por Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. 2010. 103 f. Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Química, 2010.