Bioleaching of chalcopyrite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

• A. ferrooxidans can remarkably promote the oxidation of chalcopyrite.
• SEM micrographs showed that the cells directly attached to the erosion pits on the smooth surface of chalcopyrite.
• The biofilm exists on the surfaces of chalcopyrite.
• The adherence of the cells to the minerals surfaces has direct effects to the changes of the mineral appearance.

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) was selected to experimentally study the effects of bacteria on the oxidation of chalcopyrite. The results indicated that A. ferrooxidans remarkably promoted the oxidation of chalcopyrite. The pH of the cell broth medium was observed to increase and then decrease during the bioleaching experiment. The number of suspended bacteria in the bio-oxidation process could be divided into three stages: the initial 4 days, in which the bacteria attached to the chalcopyrite surface and the number of suspended bacteria slightly decreased; day 5 to day 52, in which the suspended bacteria clearly increased with time and reached a maximum of 3.58 × 107 cells/L on day 52; and day 53 to day 80, in which the number of suspended bacteria decreased. Other parameters such as redox potential (Eh) and iron ion concentrations increased with time. SEM micrographs showed that the cells were directly attached to the erosion pits on the smooth surfaces of the chalcopyrite. The erosion pits were similar to the bacteria in shape and size, and thus, the pits were likely products of dissolution by organic acids secreted by the attached cells. Compared to the unoxidized chalcopyrite, the elemental sulfur of the eroded chalcopyrite was clearly reduced, and the elemental oxygen was slightly increased. Moreover, a biofilm was present on the surfaces of the chalcopyrite particles. Therefore, the adherence of the cells to the mineral surfaces played a predominant role in altering the mineral appearance, which is important during the leaching of chalcopyrite.