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Substrate utilisation and chalcopyrite concentrate bioleaching at 60°c in the presence of nitrate
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Substrate utilisation and chalcopyrite concentrate bioleaching at 60°c in the presence of nitrate

D.W. Shiers, D.E. Ralph and H.R. Watling
Advanced Materials Research, Vol.825, pp.435-438
2013
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Abstract

In batch cultures, the presence of nitrate inhibited iron(II) oxidation by iron(II)- or tetrathionate-adapted Acidianus (A.) brierleyi and Sulfolobus (S.) metallicus cells and tetrathionate oxidation by iron(II)-adapted A. brierleyi cells. Tetrathionate-adapted cell lines of A. brierleyi and S. metallicus oxidised tetrathionate in the presence of up to 40 mM nitrate but cell numbers were lower than those in uncontaminated tests. The results of the bioleaching tests indicated a possible window of enhanced copper extraction in the presence of 20-30 mM nitrate that might be exploited in tank bioleaching. The build up of nitrate above 40 mM in bioleaching solutions must be avoided.

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