K D Mehta

Column Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Silicate Ore of Uranium

The bioleaching of a low-grade Indian uraninite ore (triuranium octoxide, U3O8: 0.024%), containing ferro-silicate and magnetite as the major phases, and hematite and pyrite in minor amounts, has been reported. Experiments were carried out in laboratory scale column reactors inoculated with enriched culture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans isolated from the source mine water. The pH effect on uranium recovery was examined with the same amounts of ores in different columns. With the presence of 10.64% Fe in the ore as ferro-silicate, the higher uranium biorecovery of 58.9% was observed with increase in cell count from 6.4 × 107 to 9.7 × 108 cells/mL at pH 1.7 in 40 days as compared to the uranium recovery of 56.8% at pH 1.9 with a corresponding value of 9.4 × 108 cells/mL for 2.5-kg ore in the column. The dissolution of uranium under chemical leaching conditions, however, recorded a lower value of 47.9% in 40 days at room temperature. Recoveries were similar with 6-kg ore when column leaching was carried out at pH 1.7. The bioleaching of uranium from the low-grade ore of Turamdih may be correlated with the iron(II) and iron(III) concentrations, and redox potential values.

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 96 and 108 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.