Mineralogical Dynamics of Primary Copper Sulfides Mediated by Acidophilic Biofilm Formation

Roberto A. Bobadilla-Fazzini

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.262.325

Paper Titles

Innovative Biohydrometallurgical Approaches in the EU Project FAME
p.307

Fabrication of Magnetic Polymer Composite Sorbents and its Application for Recovery of Platinum from Acidic Solution
p.311

Process and Cost Improved Agitator Solutions for Bioleach Reactors
p.315

In Situ Characterization and Molecular Mechanisms Evaluation of Interfacial Interaction between Minerals and Bioleaching Microorganisms
p.321

Mineralogical Dynamics of Primary Copper Sulfides Mediated by Acidophilic Biofilm Formation
p.325

Molecular Regulatory Network Involved in Biofilm Structure Development by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans Includes Pel Exopolysaccharide Machinery
p.330

Mineral Specific Biofilm Formation of “Acidibacillus ferrooxidans” Huett2
p.334

16S rRNA and Multilocus Phylogenetic Analysis of the Iron Oxidizing Acidophiles of the Acidiferrobacteraceae Family
p.339

Proteins Binding to Immobilized Rusticyanin Detected by Affinity Chromatography
p.344

HomeSolid State PhenomenaSolid State Phenomena Vol. 262Mineralogical Dynamics of Primary Copper Sulfides...

Mineralogical Dynamics of Primary Copper Sulfides Mediated by Acidophilic Biofilm Formation

Abstract:

Bioleaching of copper sulfides is catalyzed by iron-and sulfur-oxidizing acidophilic microorganisms attached to the mineral surface forming a biofilm. However, the link between copper sulfides bioleaching and biofilm formation is not yet fully understood. Understanding the factors that are limiting the bioleaching kinetics for different copper sulfide minerals through exhaustive mineralogical analysis of the mineral surface with concomitant biofilm formation during the leaching process will deliver new process conditions with enhanced kinetics and higher copper recovery. In this work we have developed and standardized a reproducible flow cell method able to mimic heap/dump bioleaching laminar flow conditions to study the mineralogical dynamics by advanced mineralogical analysis including QEMSCAN and SEM-EDS coupled to biofilm formation analysis. Based on this method, the bioleaching mineralogical dynamics of primary copper sulfides (enargite (Cu₃AsS₄), chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂) and bornite (Cu₅FeS₄)) have been determined in the presence of biofilm formation. Supported by the observed mineralogical dynamics, different mechanisms of dissolution for bioleaching were observed as well as selective biofilm formation over the mineral surface, showing enhanced conditions for copper recovery.

You might also be interested in these eBooks

22nd International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium

View Preview

Info:

Periodical:

Solid State Phenomena (Volume 262)

Pages:

325-329

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.262.325

Citation:

Cite this paper

Online since:

August 2017

Authors:

Roberto A. Bobadilla-Fazzini*

Keywords:

Biofilm, Bioleaching, Bornite, Chalcopyrite, Copper Sulfides, Enargite

Export:

RIS, BibTeX

Price:

Permissions:

Request Permissions

* - Corresponding Author

References

[1] D. Bevilaqua, O. Garcia, O.H. Tuovinen, Oxidative dissolution of bornite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Process Biochem. 45 (2010) 101–106.

DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2009.08.013

Google Scholar

[2] C.L. Corkhill, P.L. Wincott, J.R. Lloyd, D.J. Vaughan, The oxidative dissolution of arsenopyrite (FeAsS) and enargite (Cu3AsS4) by Leptospirillum ferrooxidans, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 72 (2008) 5616–5633.

DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2008.09.008

Google Scholar

[3] B. Escobar, E. Huenupi, J.V. Wiertz, Chemical and biological leaching of enargite, Biotechnology 19 (1997) 719–722.

DOI: 10.1023/a:1018367621547

Google Scholar

[4] K. Takatsugi, K. Sasaki, T. Hirajima, Mechanism of the enhancement of bioleaching of copper from enargite by thermophilic iron-oxidizing archaea with the concomitant precipitation of arsenic, Hydrometallurgy 109 (2011) 90–96.

DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2011.05.013

Google Scholar

[5] J. Petersen, D.G. Dixon, Thermophilic heap leaching of a chalcopyrite concentrate, Miner. Eng. 15 (2002) 777–785.

DOI: 10.1016/s0892-6875(02)00092-4

Google Scholar

[6] J. Lei, Z. Huaiyang, P. Xiaotong, D. Zhonghao, The use of microscopy techniques to analyze microbial biofilm of the bio-oxidized chalcopyrite surface, Miner. Eng. 22 (2009) 37–42.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2008.03.012

Google Scholar

[7] C.J. Africa, S.T.L. Harrison, M. Becker, R.P. van Hille, In situ investigation and visualisation of microbial attachment and colonisation in a heap bioleach environment: The novel biofilm reactor, Min. Eng. 23 (2010) 486–91.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2009.12.011

Google Scholar

[8] R. Bobadilla Fazzini, G. Levican, P. Parada, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans secretome containing a newly described lipoprotein Licanantase enhances chalcopyrite bioleaching rate, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 89 (2011) 771–80.

DOI: 10.1007/s00253-010-3063-8

Google Scholar

[9] P. Parada, R. Bobadilla-Fazzini, Bioleaching of minerals by acidophile microorganisms, Encycl. Ind. Biotechnol. (2014) 1–12.

DOI: 10.1002/9780470054581.eib661

Google Scholar