Leaching of Chalcopyrite under Bacteria–Mineral Contact/Noncontact Leaching Model

Abstract

Bacteria–mineral contact and noncontact leaching models coexist in the bioleaching process. In the present paper, dialysis bags were used to study the bioleaching process by separating the bacteria from the mineral, and the reasons for chalcopyrite surface passivation were discussed. The results show that the copper leaching efficiency of the bacteria–mineral contact model was higher than that of the bacteria–mineral noncontact model. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) were used to discover that the leaching process led to the formation of a sulfur film to inhibit the diffusion of reactive ions. In addition, the deposited jarosite on chalcopyrite surface was crystallized by the hydrolysis of the excess Fe3+ ions. The depositions passivated the chalcopyrite leaching process. The crystallized jarosite in the bacteria EPS layer belonged to bacteria–mineral contact leaching system, while that in the sulfur films belonged to the bacteria–mineral noncontact system.

Keywords

• chalcopyrite
• bacteria leaching
• passivation
• jarosite