Bioleaching of high grade Pb–Zn ore by mesophilic and moderately thermophilic iron and sulphur oxidizers

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of using iron and sulphur oxidizing bacteria for the acid leaching of a high grade Pb–Zn ore material. Three strains (ATCC 13661, NCIMB 13537 and C2-TF) of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and two strains (MT-TH1 and MT-13) of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans were tested in this study. The bioleaching was monitored by measuring the dissolved metals and by X-ray diffraction analysis of leach residues. The bioleaching efficiency varied between 0.014 and 0.35. The maximum dissolution of lead was achieved with the mesophilic At. ferrooxidans (NCIMB 13537) at 30 °C. The maximum recovery of zinc was achieved with moderately thermopilic S. thermosulfidooxidans (MT-TH1) at 45 °C.