A Sustainable Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Chalcopyrite Ore
This paper reports on a study of column bioleaching of a low-grade chalcopyrite ore that is currently dump-leached under natural biological conditions without any control over microbial populations. The experimental methodology was focused on the effect of managing the bacterial populations in a raf...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/4/487 |
| _version_ | 1797409980328968192 |
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| author | Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes Sebastián Malverde Víctor Quezada |
| author_facet | Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes Sebastián Malverde Víctor Quezada |
| author_sort | Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper reports on a study of column bioleaching of a low-grade chalcopyrite ore that is currently dump-leached under natural biological conditions without any control over microbial populations. The experimental methodology was focused on the effect of managing the bacterial populations in a raffinate solution sourced from a dump-leach operation. This study presents results from columns of two heights (0.45 and 1.0 m). We demonstrated that intermittent irrigation enhanced the chalcopyrite dissolution during column leaching, but excessively long rest periods negatively affected the chemical and bacterial activity due to the shortage of oxidizing agents and/or nutrients for microorganisms. The recovery of low-grade chalcopyrite ore was enhanced by increasing the microbial cell density. The addition of 1.5 × 10<sup>8</sup> cells/mL to the 0.45 m column and 5.0 × 10<sup>7</sup> cells/mL to the 1 m column resulted in increased extraction, with the copper dissolution increasing from 32% to 44% in the 0.45 m column and from 30% to 40% in the 1.0 m column over 70 days of leaching. Under these conditions, the pH level remained constant at ~1.8, and the redox potential was around 840 mV vs. the SHE throughout the experiment. These results provided useful insights for evaluating a sustainable controlled dump-based technology for mineral bioprocessing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:22:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cff0320b7dc349f98fe6eea0e3060fe2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:22:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-cff0320b7dc349f98fe6eea0e3060fe22023-12-03T13:45:49ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2022-04-0112448710.3390/min12040487A Sustainable Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Chalcopyrite OreLilian Velásquez-Yévenes0Sebastián Malverde1Víctor Quezada2Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago, Av. Las Sophoras 175, Santiago 9170020, ChileTRESIN SPA, Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4927, Santiago 8970117, ChileLaboratorio de Investigación de Minerales Sulfurados, Departamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Minas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avenida Angamos 0610, Antofagasta 1270709, ChileThis paper reports on a study of column bioleaching of a low-grade chalcopyrite ore that is currently dump-leached under natural biological conditions without any control over microbial populations. The experimental methodology was focused on the effect of managing the bacterial populations in a raffinate solution sourced from a dump-leach operation. This study presents results from columns of two heights (0.45 and 1.0 m). We demonstrated that intermittent irrigation enhanced the chalcopyrite dissolution during column leaching, but excessively long rest periods negatively affected the chemical and bacterial activity due to the shortage of oxidizing agents and/or nutrients for microorganisms. The recovery of low-grade chalcopyrite ore was enhanced by increasing the microbial cell density. The addition of 1.5 × 10<sup>8</sup> cells/mL to the 0.45 m column and 5.0 × 10<sup>7</sup> cells/mL to the 1 m column resulted in increased extraction, with the copper dissolution increasing from 32% to 44% in the 0.45 m column and from 30% to 40% in the 1.0 m column over 70 days of leaching. Under these conditions, the pH level remained constant at ~1.8, and the redox potential was around 840 mV vs. the SHE throughout the experiment. These results provided useful insights for evaluating a sustainable controlled dump-based technology for mineral bioprocessing.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/4/487dump bioleachingchalcopyriteintermittent irrigationbacterial activity |
| spellingShingle | Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes Sebastián Malverde Víctor Quezada A Sustainable Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Chalcopyrite Ore Minerals dump bioleaching chalcopyrite intermittent irrigation bacterial activity |
| title | A Sustainable Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Chalcopyrite Ore |
| title_full | A Sustainable Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Chalcopyrite Ore |
| title_fullStr | A Sustainable Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Chalcopyrite Ore |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Sustainable Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Chalcopyrite Ore |
| title_short | A Sustainable Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Chalcopyrite Ore |
| title_sort | sustainable bioleaching of a low grade chalcopyrite ore |
| topic | dump bioleaching chalcopyrite intermittent irrigation bacterial activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/4/487 |
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