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Stepwise dissolution of chalcopyrite bioleaching by thermophile A.manzaensis and mesophile L. ferriphilum

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Abstract

Chalcopyrite dissolution was evaluated by bioleaching and electrochemical experiments with thermophile A. manzaensis (Acidianus manzaensis) and mesophile L. ferriphilum (Leptospirillum ferriphium) cultures at 65 °C and 40 °C, respectively. It was investigated that the bioleaching of chalcopyrite was stepwise. It was reduced to Cu2S at a lower redox potential locating in the whole bioleaching process by A. manzaensis at high temperature while only at initial days of bioleaching by L. ferriphilum at a relative low temperature. No reduced product was detected when the redox potential was beyond a high level (e.g., 550 mV (vs SCE)) bioleached by L. ferriphilum. Chalcopyrite bioleaching efficiency was substantially improved bioleached by A. manaensis compared to that by L. ferriphilum, which was mainly attributed to the reduction reaction occurring during bioleaching. The reductive intermediate Cu2S was more amenable to oxidation than chalcopyrite, causing enhanced copper extraction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mineral Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Guo-hua Gu  (顾帼华), Xian-xue Xiong  (熊先学), Ke-ting Hu  (胡可婷) & Shuang-ke Li  (李双棵)

  2. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Chong-qing Wang  (王重庆)

Authors
  1. Guo-hua Gu  (顾帼华)
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  2. Xian-xue Xiong  (熊先学)
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  3. Ke-ting Hu  (胡可婷)
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  4. Shuang-ke Li  (李双棵)
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  5. Chong-qing Wang  (王重庆)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xian-xue Xiong  (熊先学).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(2010CB630903) supported by National Basic Research Program of China; Project(51374249) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

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Gu, Gh., Xiong, Xx., Hu, Kt. et al. Stepwise dissolution of chalcopyrite bioleaching by thermophile A.manzaensis and mesophile L. ferriphilum . J. Cent. South Univ. 22, 3751–3759 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2919-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2919-6

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