Oxidative dissolution of bornite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Bevilaqua, D. [UNESP]; Garcia, O. [UNESP]; Tuovinen, O. H.

Oxidative dissolution of bornite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Data

2010-01-01

Autores

Bevilaqua, D.

Garcia, O.

Tuovinen, O. H.

Editor

Elsevier B.V.

Tipo

Artigo

Direito de acesso

Acesso restrito

Resumo

The oxidation of finely ground (-200 mu m) bornite (Cu(5)FeS(4)) by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was evaluated in oxygen uptake and shake flasks experiments. The oxidation was a net acid-consuming reaction. Residual bornite was not detected by X-fray diffraction in solids after 2 days of contact in acid leach solution, indicating that the chemical and biological oxidation of bornite was relatively fast. Virtually 100% of copper solubilization was achieved in A. ferrooxidans cultures with or without ferrous iron, while in abiotic controls the copper extraction was around 30%. Bornite was not oxidized by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in respirometric or shake flasks experiments. Covellite (CuS) was detected as a secondary phase under all experimental conditions. Sulfur and jarosite were formed only in the presence of A. ferrooxidans. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.