Being part of the MiCCuR-project, the strategy at TU Bergakademie Freiberg is maintaining the redox potential in the optimum area for chalcopyrite bioleaching. This shall be achieved by variating the chloride concentration and thus suppressing fast iron oxidizing bacteria. Besides the sodium chloride concentration, the parameters pH and temperature have been investigated. First, chloride- tolerating iron and sulfur oxidizing bacteria were successfully searched, matching the needed parameters pH (around 2) and temperature (30 to 55°C). Suitable bacteria were mixed designing a consortium for bioleaching experiments. As major parameter, the chloride concentration was successfully variated, showing the expected influence to the redox potential and hence to the copper release from chalcopyrite. Further experiments will be conducted variating the temperature.
We are looking forward to keep you posted about our ongoing research within the MiCCuR- project.
