A Comparative Study on Bioleaching Properties of Various Sulfide Minerals Using Acidiphilium cryptum

Bioleaching has been regarded as a green alternative to chemical leaching in metal extraction processes. In this study, the bioleaching properties of indigenous acidophilic bacteria for various sulfide minerals were compared and evaluated terms pH reduction leaching. The primary samples sphalerite (ZnS) (SP), galena (PbS) (GN1 GN2), pyrite (FeS2) (PY), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) (CCP), an bacterium, Acidiphilium cryptum (99.56%), was applied experiments. differed according mineral content. leached concentration Zn higher than that Pb SP sample with high ZnS content, whereas GN1 GN2 PbS Meanwhile, rate faster all samples. Corrosion action observed on surface bacterial residues These results show mechanism based proceeds through indirect biological oxidation, direct oxidation. study can provide basic research data process optimization when employing extract valuable metals.