Hongshan Low-grade Copper Sulphide Ore Bacterial Leaching Pilot Study

Copper and its compounds have wid-ranging usage because of their better physical and chemical properties, which leads to the rapid development of copper metallurgy and gets favorable market ability and quotation. However, copper metallurgy has an inadequate supply for the lack of reserves, It is necessary to exploit all sorts of copper reserves, especially resourceful low-grade copper minerals to keep the sustaining and healthy development of copper metallurgy.Bacterial leaching theory, experiment and results were described in this paper. The leaching experiment used by bacteria on the Dahongshan's low grade sulfide copper ore which is difficult to leach was carried out. Some leaching bacteria which have good physiological and leaching activity were isolated and domesticated, and were adapted to leaching ore. The effective domesticated method was put forward. Some technological parameters such as ore acidification, potential controlling, leaching method, ore granularity, leaching acidity, leaching liquid quantity and acid consumption were obtained by column experiment and leaching ore in situ under the ore well. The results show it could leach 30.62% of copper from the low-grade sulfide copper ore within 24 weeks by column leaching method, and the bioleaching rate of copper is 22.83% by leaching in situ under the ore well in 8 months.