Bacterial leaching kinetics for copper dissolution from a lowgrade Indian chalcopyrite ore

Bio-leaching of copper (0.3%) from a low grade Indian chalcopyrite ore of Malanjkhand copper mines, using a native mesophilic isolate predominantly Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A.ferrooxidans), is reported. A bio-recovery of 72% Cu was recorded in the presence of this culture (not adapted), which increased to 75% with an ore adapted culture after 35 days at 35ºC and pH 2.0 with <50fim particles. The kinetic data showed best fit for the diffusion-controlled shrinking core model, exhibiting linear plots for [1- 2/3X-(1-X)2/3] vs time (X-fraction leached). Apparently, the role of the bacteria is to convert the ferrous ion to the ferric state, which oxidizes the chalcopyrite in order to dissolve copper, while maintaining a high redox potential. The activation energy value (E) was calculated to be 9.6 and 10.8 kJ/mol for the un-adapted culture and the ore adapted culture respectively in the temperature range 25-35ºC. This leaching mechanism was corroborated by XRD phase identification and SEM studies of the leach residue.