Industrial Heap Bioleaching of Copper Sulfide Ore Started with Only Water Irrigation

Sulfuric acid solution containing ferric iron is the extractant for industrial heap bioleaching of copper sulfides. To start a plant, sulfuric usually added to irrigation maintain adequate acidity (pH 1.0–2.0) dissolution. An practice secondary sulfide ore that began with only water without addition was successfully implemented and introduced in this manuscript. The mineral composition their behavior related production consumption during heaps analyzed. This indicated possibility self-generating exogenous addition. After proving by batches laboratory tests, measures were promote oxidation throughout acidifying stages, from pH 7.0 1.0, thus produced especially pyrite oxidation. heaps, adapted microbial consortium inoculated established leaching system. launch finally expansion realized acid, showing great efficiency under low operation costs.