Bacterial and chemical leaching of chalcopyrite concentrates as affected by the redox potential and ferric/ferrous iron ratio at 22 °C

• Two chalcopyrite samples were bioleached at low redox potential in shake flasks.
• Three pure and two mixed cultures were used in these experiments.
• Redox potential levels (350 and 600 mV) were adjusted with Fe2 + and Fe3 + ratios.
• Copper dissolution was enhanced at low redox potential (400 mV).
• Under these conditions, ferrous iron dominated the redox potential.

Biological oxidation of chalcopyrite by acidophilic and mesophilic bacteria becomes hindered over time due to passivation of the surface, making the mineral relatively recalcitrant to beneficiation in bioleaching processes. Several approaches have been discussed in the literature to overcome the passivation effect. The purpose of this work was to assess the effect of redox potential and Fe3 +/Fe2 + ratios on the bioleaching of chalcopyrite in shake flasks. Two mixed cultures, three pure cultures of acidophiles, and two samples of chalcopyrite concentrates were used for this study. The initial redox levels between 350 and 600 mV were adjusted with Fe2 + and Fe3 + ratios, Σ200 mM and Σ300 mM Fe, at 0.33 and 2.5% pulp densities, respectively. In general, the differences in copper leaching were relatively minor among the test cultures and between the chemical controls and inoculated cultures. Copper dissolution increased linearly when the redox potential was in the 320–370 mV range, and this involved the inhibition of bacterial iron oxidation by the chalcopyrite sample.