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Bioelectrochemical system for the biooxidation of a chalcopyrite concentrate by acidophilic bacteria coupled to energy current generation and cathodic copper recovery

Biotechnology Letters volume 40, pages 63–73 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives

To develop a bioelectrochemical system (BES) to couple the biooxidation of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), bioelectrogenesis, and the cathodic Cu2+ reduction, bioanodes of acidophilic (pH < 2) and aerobic chemolithoautotrophic bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (sulfur oxidizing) and Leptospirillum sp. (Fe2+ oxidizing) were used.

Results

CuFeS2 biooxidation increases the charge transfer from the media due to the bioleaching of Cu and Fe. The biofilm on a graphite bar endows a more electropositive (anodic) character to the bioelectrode. By adding the bioleachate generated by both bacteria into the anodic chamber, the acidic bioleachate provides the faradaic intensity. The maximum current density was 0.86 ± 19 mA cm−2 due to the low potential of the BES of 0.18 ± 0.02 V. Such low potential was sufficient for the cathodic deposit of Cu2+.

Conclusions

This work demonstrates a proof of concept for energy savings for mining industries: bioanodes of A. thiooxidans and Leptospirillum sp. are electroactive during the biooxidation of CuFeS2.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support for this work comes from the Mexican Council of Science and Technology, CONACyT (Project CB-2012-01-177646). The authors also thank the CONACyT for the Grants 22342 and C000/4069/25-264704. Special thanks to Francisco Galindo for the SEM and ESEM analyses, to Izanami López Acosta and Aurora Robledo Cabrera for the AAS analyses and for Raman technical assistance, respectively.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Figure 1—(a) Raman spectra bioelectrodes with A. thiooxidans and Leptospirillum sp. during the biooxidation of chalcopyrite concentrate. (b) A representative ESEM image of the bioelectrode after 21 days.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Geomicrobiología-Metalurgia, Facultad de Ingeniería, UASLP, Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2°, 78210, San Luis, SLP, Mexico

    José S. Fernández-Reyes & J. Viridiana García-Meza

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  1. José S. Fernández-Reyes
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  2. J. Viridiana García-Meza
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Viridiana García-Meza.

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Fernández-Reyes, J.S., García-Meza, J.V. Bioelectrochemical system for the biooxidation of a chalcopyrite concentrate by acidophilic bacteria coupled to energy current generation and cathodic copper recovery. Biotechnol Lett 40, 63–73 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-017-2435-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-017-2435-x

Keywords

  • Acid media
  • Bioanode
  • Bioelectrogenesis
  • Chalcopyrite
  • Copper recovery