Effect of technological factors on bacterial leaching
of low-grade Ni-Cu sulfide ore
of low-grade Ni-Cu sulfide ore
(Institute of Chemical Metallurgy, The Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Beijing 100080, P.R.China)
Beijing 100080, P.R.China)
Abstract: The bioleaching of a low-grade Ni-Cu sulfide ore from Jinchuan Mine with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans(TF5) and Thiobacillus thiooxidans (TT) was investigated. The effect of pH, the initial cell numbers of bacteria, the pulp density and the ratio of TF5 and TT on leaching was described, and the favorable bioleaching conditions for the ore were experimentally confirmed. The aeration leaching, agitation leaching with air bubbling, and column leaching were respectively tested. The highest recovery was achieved in the aeration leaching. After leachingfor 20d with pulp density of 15%,the extractions of Ni, Cu and Co were respectively 95.4%,48.6% and 82.6%.
Key words: Thiobacillus ferrooxidans; Thiobacillus thiooxidans; low-grade Ni-Cu sulfide ore; bioleaching