A New Heterotrophic Strain for Bioleaching of Low Grade Complex Copper Ore

Abstract

Abstract:A new heterotrophic strain, named Providencia sp. JAT-1, was isolated and used in bioleaching of low-grade complex copper ore. The strain uses sodium citrate as a carbon source and urea as a nitrogen source to produce ammonia. The optimal growth condition of the strain is 30˝C, initial pH 8, sodium citrate 10 g/L and urea 20 g/L, under which the cell density and ammonia concentration in the medium reached a maximum of 4.83ˆ10 8 cells/mL and 14 g/L, respectively. Ammonia produced by the strain is used as the main lixiviant in bioleaching. Bioleaching results revealed that higher strain growth led to a higher copper recovery, while higher pulp density will cause a greater inhibitory effect on strain growth and ammonia production. The copper extraction reached the highest value of 54.5% at the pulp density of 1%. Malachite, chrysocolla and chalcocite are easy to leach out in this bioleaching system while chalcopyrite is difficult. Results of comparative leaching experiments show that bioleaching using JAT-1 is superior to ammonia leaching at the same condition. The metabolites produced by the strain other than ammonia are also involved in bioleaching.

Characterization of a Native Microbial Consortium from Mining Tailings of the Arequipa Region and its potential application in Biolixiviation

“…According to the research conducted by Hu et al in 2016 [12], who focused on processing this mineral to extract copper through their bioleaching method, they managed to recover 58.6% in a biogenic ammonia medium. The most prominent function associated with bioleaching was ammonia assimilation, representing 21.48% of the identified functions.…”

Copper Overview: From the Ore to the Applications – A Case Study of the Application of Concentrated Solar Energy to the Treatment of Copper Metallurgy Slags

“…Within this context, it is possible to mention Velásquez-Yévenes and Lasnibat's research [2] about the simultaneous recovery of copper and manganese from "exotic-Cu" deposits in Chile, characterized by the refractoriness to dissolution under acidic and oxidative conditions, or the research of Godirilwe and collaborators about the extraction of copper from complex carbonaceous sulfide ore, characterized by their mineralogical complexity and impurities of organic carbon and carbonates [3]. Other research in this line that can be mentioned is that of Corin and coauthors about complex copper ore (sulfide, oxide, and mixed) in Zambia [4], or Liu and researchers that reported the beneficiation of complex copper oxide ores rich in malachite [5] or the research of Hu et al about low-grade copper ores with high contents of oxide ore and carbonate gangue (malachite, chrysocolla, chalcopyrite, and chalcocite with gangue minerals as quartz, limonite, calcite, and dolomite) from Yunnan province in China [6].…”

Bioleaching Process for Copper Extraction from Waste in Alkaline and Acid Medium

“…Although several new alkaline leaching techniques, including two-stage mineral leaching and metal recovery from tailings ore [7], have been proposed, and recent extraction experiments have been conducted, there are very few studies on copper extraction from solid wastes such as copper sulfide residues associated with an alkaline leaching environment colonized by bacteria. These studies are mainly concerned with the isolation of strains [8], the biological leaching process of flotation wastes, and the alkaline leaching mechanism of chalcopyrite [9].…”