Bioleaching of Covellite from Low Grade Copper Sulphide Ore and Tails

2013 ◽  
Vol 825 ◽  
pp. 262-265
Author(s):  
Victor J. Zepeda ◽  
Dina Cautivo ◽  
Pedro A. Galleguillos ◽  
José Soto ◽  
Yasna Contador ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Total Iron ◽  
Copper Recovery ◽  
Copper Production ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Copper Sulphide ◽  
Copper Ore ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
Sulphide Ores

The economic importance of copper production in Chile has prompted the study of new strategies for the optimal management of mineral resources, including processing of low grade ore and even processing tails (processed ore). Currently, heap bioleaching is the most convenient technology to treat low grade copper sulphide ores bearing chalcopyrite, chalcocite and covellite. Covellite is a secondary copper sulphide occurring in copper sulphide deposits and it is also formed by acidic dissolution of chalcocite. In leaching processes, the main factors influencing the dissolution of covellite are the electrochemical potential (Eh) and temperature.This work aimed at assessing the effect of different concentrations of total iron (3.0 and 6.0 g/L) and temperatures (30 and 50°C) in the bioleaching of covellite contained in a low grade copper ore and the same ore after a previous process of bioleaching at ambient temperature. Initial composition of low-grade ore was chalcocite (0.58%), chalcopyrite (0.56%), covellite (0.30%) and pyrite (2.73%), while the processed ore contained chalcopyrite (0.47%), covellite (0.28%), chalcocite (0.10%) and pyrite (3.32%). Covellite was mostly dissolved (>90%) in both unprocessed and processed ore, independently of the temperature and total iron concentrations. However a higher total copper recovery was achieved in tests performed at 50°C due to higher dissolution of primary ores, especially in unprocessed ore. The microbial activity was confirmed by Most Probable Number (MPN) analyses of iron and sulfur oxidizing microorganisms. The microbial population was dominated by Acidithiobacillus spp. in tests operated at 30°C, while in tests operated at 50° Sulfobacillus spp. were the most abundant organisms.

Bioleaching of Low-Grade Copper Sulfide Ore Using a Colum Reactor

2009 ◽  
Vol 71-73 ◽  
pp. 409-412
Author(s):  
Wen Qing Qin ◽  
Yan Sheng Zhang ◽  
Shi Jie Zhen ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Jian Wen Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Concentration ◽  
Mixed Cultures ◽  
Copper Recovery ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Leaching Rate ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Copper Ore ◽  
Copper Leaching ◽  
Pure Cultures ◽  
Mixed Bacteria

The effects of several variables on the column bioleaching of copper sulphide ore have been investigated. The copper ore contained chalcopyrite as the main sulfide minerals and bornite and chalcocite as the minor minerals. The experiment was carried out using bench-scale column leach reactors designed in Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, which were inoculated with the pure mesophile bacteria (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans) and thermophile bacteria (Sulfobacillus), respectively, and the mixed bacteria which contain both iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The results show that the mixed cultures were more efficient than the pure cultures alone and the maximum copper recovery 53.64% was achieved using the mixed cultures after 85 days. The leaching rate of chalcopyrite tended to increase with the increased dissolved ferric iron concentration. The effect of particle size on the rate of the copper leaching was also investigated, and it was shown that the copper bioleaching rate decreases as the amount of fines increase, which limits the permeability, thus decreases leaching rate. Jarosite and elemental sulphur formed in the column were characterized by the X-ray and EDS.

scholarly journals Copper Recovery from Silicate-Containing Low-Grade Copper Ore Using Flotation Followed by High-Pressure Oxidative Leaching

2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baisui HAN ◽  
Batnasan ALTANSUKH ◽  
Kazutoshi HAGA ◽  
Yasushi TAKASAKI ◽  
Atsushi SHIBAYAMA
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Copper Recovery ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Copper Ore ◽  
Oxidative Leaching

Silver-catalyzed bioleaching for raw low-grade copper sulphide ores

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianlong Deng ◽  
Yafei Guo ◽  
Mengxia Liao ◽  
Dongchan Li
Keyword(s):  
Low Grade ◽  
Copper Sulphide ◽  
Sulphide Ores

Efficiently Utilizing a Low Grade and Complex Copper Ore by Flotation

2013 ◽  
Vol 734-737 ◽  
pp. 929-934
Author(s):  
Qi Nie ◽  
Xiao Si Zhou ◽  
Fen Lan Peng ◽  
Xu Shen ◽  
Zhi Zhang Li
Keyword(s):  
Yunnan Province ◽  
Copper Recovery ◽  
Test Scheme ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Copper Ore ◽  
Copper Concentrate ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Complex Copper

Based on the analysis of the properties of the copper ore from Jinggu area in Yunnan province, a suitable technical route was presented for processing of eligible copper concentrate and the main factors i.e. grinding fineness, Na2S dosage and collector dosage, affecting the quality of roughing concentration was investigated. On this basis, a close-circuit flotation test scheme was preceded, which obtained a high quality copper concentrate with Cu grade of 16.08%, copper recovery of 58.52%. The recovery of copper concentrate is much lower than the Cu recovery of roughing concentrate from the condition experiments. This may be contributed to the fact that fine slime carried by middling worsens the separation of copper minerals and gangues. The Mo was enriched in concentrate, which is significantly considered to recovery in further work.

Characterization of Oxidizing Activity of a Microbial Community in an Industrial Bioleaching Heap

2009 ◽  
Vol 71-73 ◽  
pp. 59-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Soto ◽  
Claudio Meneses ◽  
Y. Contador ◽  
Pedro A. Galleguillos ◽  
Cecilia Demergasso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfur Oxidation ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Lag Phase ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Microbial Oxidation ◽  
Data Mining Technique ◽  
Initial Oxidation ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
Oxidation Rates ◽  
Iron And Sulfur Oxidation

In order to explore new options to optimize the low-grade copper ore bioleaching process, it is important to understand the kinetics of microbial oxidation at industrial level. This work studies the changes of iron and sulfur oxidation rates of microbial communities in solution from an industrial low grade copper bioleaching heap process at Escondida Mine in Chile. Pregnant leach solution (PLS) samples were analyzed periodically to determine physico-chemical parameters. The total numbers of the different microorganism species in industrial samples were determined by Real Time PCR. In addition, Most Probable Number assays (MPN) were performed for iron and sulfur oxidizing microorganisms. Kinetics incubation tests of PLS in the presence of iron or sulfur were performed to study the iron and sulfur oxidation, in total, 102 oxidation profile tests were obtained. Based on the oxidation profiles obtained, the tests were divided into four groups, labeled as fast, normal, stepped shape, and incomplete. The grouping system was established by considering oxidation time and rates, during the initial oxidation stages and accounted for any lag phase. A data mining technique, called decision trees was used to analyze the data and to generate rules that represented patterns in the data. Strong correlations were found between the predominant microorganisms and the behavior of the oxidation tests. Preliminary results indicate that the magnitude order of MPN of the iron oxidizing microorganisms is an important factor in the microbial oxidizing activity, followed by the predominant specie within the microbial population, PLS temperature and Eh.

Recovery Copper from a Low Grade and Ultra-Fine-Grained Dissemination Mixed Copper Ore by Flotation

2013 ◽  
Vol 734-737 ◽  
pp. 962-966
Author(s):  
Yong Jun Xian ◽  
Shu Ming Wen ◽  
Hai Ying Shen ◽  
Qi Nie
Keyword(s):  
Yunnan Province ◽  
Copper Recovery ◽  
Test Scheme ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Recovery ◽  
Copper Ore ◽  
Copper Concentrate ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Ultrafine Grinding ◽  
Low Dosage

The present study aims to characterize the copper ore from east area of Yunnan province. The results indicate that the ores is a representative low grade and and ultra-fine-grained ore. As a result, a suitable flotation flow i.e. “ultrafine grinding- sulphidizing and dispersing - bulk flotation with low dosage collector” was presented for processing of eligible copper concentrate with high recovery and the main factors i.e. grinding fineness, regulators types and dosage and collector dosage affecting the indexes of roughing concentration was investigated. As a result, a close-circuit flotation test scheme was proceeded, which obtained a high quality copper concentrate with Cu grade of 25.12%, copper recovery of 87.63%. This index is successful in the aim of recovery copper for such mixed copper ore.

Bacterial Activity at Low Temperature in Cultures Derived from a Low-Grade Copper Sulphide Bioleaching Heap at the Escondida Mine, Chile

2007 ◽  
Vol 20-21 ◽  
pp. 543-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Zepeda ◽  
F. Galleguillos ◽  
Danny Castillo ◽  
Manuel Lastra ◽  
Cecilia Demergasso
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Bacterial Activity ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Acidithiobacillus Thiooxidans ◽  
Copper Sulphide ◽  
Copper Ore ◽  
Design And Optimization ◽  
The North ◽  
Leaching Solution

The majority of mining companies in the north of Chile that use biohydrometallurgical processes to leach low-grade copper sulphide ore are located in the high Andes. This makes the study of the effect of low temperature on bacterial activity important for the design and optimization of the bioleaching process. In this study bacterial activity of iron and sulphur oxidizing microorganisms was analyzed in the laboratory at various temperatures. Flask tests were carried out at a range of temperatures to determine the bacterial activity in pregnant leaching solution (PLS) from a pilot plant at the Escondida Mine. Ratkowsky curves were constructed by monitoring the concentration of ferrous iron and acid production during the tests. Also leaching tests were carried out at ~10 and ~20°C on a 1 m column using a copper ore sample. In an industrial solution in flask tests, iron oxidizing activity was observed until the temperature was reduced to 20°C. In the same culture, after an adaptation process, iron oxidizing activity was observed down to 5°C. In the column tests, 41.2% of copper was recovered after 91 days of leaching at 10 °C and 57.2 % at ~20°C. Predominant 16S rRNA gene sequences were related to Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferriphilum.

Bioleaching of Copper Sulphide Ore by a Microbial Consortium Isolated from Acid Mine Drainage: Influence of [Fe2+]

2015 ◽  
Vol 1130 ◽  
pp. 418-422
Author(s):  
Luis Salcedo-Mejía ◽  
Luis Ramírez-Osco ◽  
Hans Cayo-Gonzales ◽  
Vladimir Arias-Arce
Keyword(s):  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Microbial Consortium ◽  
Copper Recovery ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Copper Sulphide ◽  
Bacterial Concentration ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Sulphide Ore

Peru is mining country with a great diversity of mineral resource. The high grade ores are declining, and there is a need to implement new techniques for recycling metals (Cu, Au, Zn, Pb, etc) from low-grade ores. In order to answer this question, the bioleaching of copper from sulphide ore (FeS2 45.30%, CuFeS2 1.90%, ZnS 8.90%, FeAsS 13.12%, PbS 3.69%) was evaluated with different concentrations of Fe2+ using an iron-oxidizing native microbial consortium.The samples were collected from drainage acid mine (4100 m.a.s.l.) located in the south of Huancavelica region and the sample of ore from middle Huaraz region (3200 m.a.s.l.). Microorganisms were isolated in 9k medium at pH 1.8, 22oC. Bioleaching test were performed in two consecutive steps to 150 rpm at 22oC, monitoring pH, ORP (mV). Assays varying the concentration of Fe2+ (0 mM – 53 mM) were performed with a pulp density of 1% and 2% at each step, and with an inoculum 10% (v/v) to a microbial concentration of 108 cel/mL.We isolated a microbial consortium after 8 weeks with presence of bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans-like. In assays, copper was solubilized. The microbial concentration in the tests was (2x107- 4x107cel/mL). In the first stage, the test with 21 mM Fe2+ recovered 62% copper. In the next step, with the bacterial concentration of the first step, bioleaching time is reduced by 22% for copper recovery (63%) in absence of Fe2+.With these data, we observed that the addition of iron is not necessary in a stage adaptation when the mineral contain iron.

scholarly journals Investigation of Copper Recovery from a New Copper Ore Deposit (Nussir) in Northern Norway: Dithiophosphates and Xanthate-Dithiophosphate Blend as Collectors

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Dhar ◽  
Maria Thornhill ◽  
Hanumantha Kota
Keyword(s):  
Mining Industry ◽  
Copper Recovery ◽  
Gangue Mineral ◽  
Copper Sulphide ◽  
Copper Ore ◽  
Mineralogical Characterization ◽  
Mineral Components ◽  
Automated Mineralogy ◽  
Concentrate Grade ◽  
Fine Copper

The Norwegian mining industry is currently showing increasing interest in the production of metals. Recent research has demonstrated promising results identifying the high potential of the Nussir deposit for the production of copper and other valuable minerals. Mineralogical characterization for Nussir ore samples and their flotation concentrates was performed with optical microscopy and Zeiss automated mineralogy (Mineralogic) where the fine copper sulphide middlings were not completely recovered with a traditional sodium isobutyl xanthate (SIBX) collector. In the current study, dithiophosphate and a mixture of xanthate and dithiophosphate collectors’ interaction on copper and other gangue mineral components of the ore sample were investigated with zeta potential, quantitative adsorption, FTIR studies and Hallimond tube flotation. All the results for single mineral experiments confirmed the feasibility of selective copper sulphide flotation by disecondary butyl dithiophosphate (DBD) as collector. The blend of xanthate and dithiophosphate was chemically adsorbed as individual entities on the surface of the copper minerals via competitive adsorption. A systematic study with DBD and a mixed collector (SIBX and DBD) system was conducted on the coarse grind (−105 µm) of the Nussir ore sample, and the results showed a synergistic interaction between the two reagents. The beneficiated copper concentrate using this mixture of collectors is indeed of improved copper grade and recovery. The highest copper recovery in bench scale flotation was 95.3% with a concentrate grade of 19.4% Cu for DBD collector, whereas mixtures of dithiophosphate and xanthate collectors in the ratio of 3:1 resulted in the highest copper grade (24.7%) and recovery (96.3%).

Research on Copper-Sulphur Separation of Dongguashan Copper Ore

2012 ◽  
Vol 454 ◽  
pp. 251-255
Author(s):  
Huai Wang ◽  
Ze Hong Wang ◽  
Yue Xin Han ◽  
Li Mei Bai
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Copper Sulphide ◽  
Good Separation ◽  
Calcium Hypochlorite ◽  
Copper Ore ◽  
Sulphide Ores ◽  
Complex Copper ◽  
Separation Results

Dongguashan copper ore is one of a complex copper sulphide ores containing various metal minerals in Tong ling area. In this paper, in order to simplify the complexity of traditional lime process, the process of Cu-S bulk flotation-regrinding-separation is discussed and exploited. A good quality of Cu concentrate and S concentrate are obtained respectively after Cu-S separation by using calcium hypochlorite as depressant. A good separation results are derived through this process, and high efficiency of calcium hypochlorite used as depressant and feasibility of the process are confirmed.

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