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Effect of organic compounds on the microbiological leaching of a complex sulphide ore material

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Summary

Microbiological leaching of metals from sulphide ore material was evaluated with a pure culture ofThiobacillus ferrooxidans and with three mixed cultures of acidophiles. Organic carbon amendment was found to be a prerequisite for the microbiological extraction of metals from this ore material, regardless of the culture tested. The concentration of the organic compounds necessary for the biological leaching was related to the pulp density of the ore material. Surfaceactive agents did not increase the recoveries of nickel, zinc, copper and cobalt but several complex organic materials had a positive effect on the bacterial leaching. The chemical leaching was not influenced by the test compounds.

Résumé

La lixiviation microbiologique de métaux à partir de minerai de sulfure a été évaluée au moyen d'une culture pure deThiobacillus ferrooxidans et de 3 cultures mixtes d'acidophiles. Un ajout de carbone organique s'est révélé un préréquisite pour l'extraction microbiologique de métaux de ce minerai, quelle que soit la culture utilisée. La concentration en matière organique requise pour la lixiviation biologique dépend de la densité interne du minerai. Les agents tensio-actifs n'ont pas augmenté le recouvrement de nickel, de zinc, de cuivre ou de cobalt, mais plusieurs matériaux organiques complexes ont en un effet positif sur la lixiviation bactérienne. La Lixiviation chimique n'a pas été influencée par les composés testés.

Resumen

La extracción por disolución de metales de un mineral de azufre se evaluó utilizando un cultivo puro deThiobacillus ferrooxidans y tres cultivos mixtos acidófilos. Se observó que la adición de un corrector orgánico carbonadoera un prerrequisito para la extracción microbiológica de metales de este material, independientemente del cultivo utilizado. La concentración de compuestos orgánicos necesarios estaba relacionada con la densidad de la pasta del material. La recuperación de níquel, zinc, cobre y cobalto no se incrementó mediante la adición de agentes tensioactivos, aunque la incorporación de algunos productos orgánicos complejos tuvo un efecto positivo en esta extracción microbiológica. Ninguno de los compuestos ensayados influyó en la extacción por disolución química del material.

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Author notes

  1. Jaakko Puhakka

    Present address: Department of Civil Engineering, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 527, SF-33101, Tampere, Finland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, SF-00710, Helsinki, Finland

    Jaakko Puhakka

  2. Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 484 W. 12th Avenue, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA

    Olli H. Tuovinen

Authors
  1. Jaakko Puhakka
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  2. Olli H. Tuovinen
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Puhakka, J., Tuovinen, O.H. Effect of organic compounds on the microbiological leaching of a complex sulphide ore material. Mircen Journal 3, 429–436 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00935701

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00935701

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