Bioleaching for Copper Extraction of Marginal Ores from the Brazilian Amazon Region

Abstract

The use of biotechnology to explore low-grade ore deposits and mining tailings is one of the most promising alternatives to reduce environmental impacts and costs of copper extraction. However, such technology still depends on improvements to be fully applied in Brazil under industrial scale. In this way, the bioleaching, by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, in columns and stirred reactors were evaluated regarding to copper extraction of a mineral sulfide and a weathered ore from the Brazilian Amazon region. Samples (granulometry of 2.0/4.75 mm) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry and scanning electrons microscopy (SEM). The pH and Oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) were daily monitored and leachate samples were collected for copper extraction determination by EDXRF. After 47 days, the columns bioleaching efficiency was 1% (1298 mg Cu·L−1) and 0.95% (985 mg Cu·L−1) for 2.00/4.75 mm sulfide ore, respectively, whereas the stirred reactors bioleaching resulted in 4% (348 mg Cu·L−1) for the mineral sulfide and 47% (295.5 mg Cu·L−1) for the weathered ore.

Covellite (CuS) Production from a Real Acid Mine Drainage Treated with Biogenic H2S

“…The biosulfidogenic method can either be applied to soluble metal precipitation from other polluting organic and/or inorganic effluents beyond AMD, or coupling the environmental remediation process to valuable product generation in accordance with circular economy principles [30]. Novel studies are necessary for upscaling covellite production to industrial-level demand.…”

A microbial technology approach using bioleaching for low grade metals extraction - a review

“…It is predicted that some additional commercial-scale bioleaching facilities will be constructed in the future. For low-grade ores and tailings, heap leaching will most likely remain the preferred method [18,74], while tank bioleaching will boost up its application for gold, copper, and other metal concentrates. In bioleaching, the employment of microorganisms is critical [72].…”

“…Many of the past reviews and research studies had discussed about the mechanisms and methods of bioleaching which covers the basic concept of bioleaching to the in-depth discussion of its application in the industry [3,14,15,16,17,18,19]. This review intends to summarize in detail the overview principles and concept of bioleaching that is available today.…”

Critical Raw Materials Recovery through Bio/Hydrometallurgy from Secondary Resources

“…A publication dealing with biotechnological innovations in extractive metallurgy such as the use of microorganisms for the leaching and recovery of metals (i.e., biohydrometallurgy) from primary ores and secondary resources has also been presented in this special issue. Nascimento et al [8] proposed the use of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in column and stirred tank reactors for bioleaching of copper from a mineral sulfide (mostly chalcopyrite) of the Brazilian Amazon region. After 47 days, the column's copper bioleaching efficiency was 1% and 0.95% for 2.00/4.75 mm sulfide ore, respectively, whereas the stirred reactors bioleaching displayed better results with 4% Cu leaching for the sulfide ore.…”