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Thin-layer heap bioleaching of copper flotation tailings containing high levels of fine grains and microbial community succession analysis

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Abstract

Thin-layer heap bioleaching of copper flotation tailings containing high levels of fine grains was carried out by mixed cultures on a small scale over a period of 210 d. Lump ores as a framework were loaded at the bottom of the ore heap. The overall copper leaching rates of tailings and lump ores were 57.10wt% and 65.52wt%, respectively. The dynamic shifts of microbial community structures about attached microorganisms were determined using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform based on 16S rRNA amplification strategy. The results indicated that chemolithotrophic genera Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum were always detected and dominated the microbial community in the initial and middle stages of the heap bioleaching process; both genera might be responsible for improving the copper extraction. However, Thermogymnomonas and Ferroplasma increased gradually in the final stage. Moreover, the effects of various physicochemical parameters and microbial community shifts on the leaching efficiency were further investigated and these associations provided some important clues for facilitating the effective application of bioleaching.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Major State Basic Research and Development Program of China (No. 2010CB630901), the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (No. 2012AA061502), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41573072 and 31570113).

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Xiao-dong Hao, Yi-li Liang, Hua-qun Yin, Hong-wei Liu, Wei-min Zeng & Xue-duan Liu

  2. Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Xiao-dong Hao, Yi-li Liang, Hua-qun Yin, Hong-wei Liu, Wei-min Zeng & Xue-duan Liu

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  1. Xiao-dong Hao
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  2. Yi-li Liang
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  3. Hua-qun Yin
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  4. Hong-wei Liu
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Correspondence to Yi-li Liang or Xue-duan Liu.

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Hao, Xd., Liang, Yl., Yin, Hq. et al. Thin-layer heap bioleaching of copper flotation tailings containing high levels of fine grains and microbial community succession analysis. Int J Miner Metall Mater 24, 360–368 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1415-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1415-4

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