Bioleaching of Non-Ferrous Metals from Arsenic-Bearing Sulfide Concentrate

Tank bioleaching of substandard arsenic-bearing sulfide copper–zinc concentrate, containing 1.70, 6.22, and 7.30% of arsenic, copper, and zinc, was performed. The concentrate contained pyrite, chalcopyrite, tennantite, and sphalerite. Bioleaching was performed at 40°C using a mixed culture of acidophilic microorganisms in two modes. In the first mode, pulp density was 10%, while in the second it comprised 15%. Bioleaching made it possible to extract 17 and 70% of copper and zinc in the first mode, and 15 and 72% of copper and zinc in the second mode. The results obtained that bioleaching can be an effective approach to remove zinc from substandard copper-zinc concentrates. At the same time, copper minerals, including arsenic-bearing mineral tennantite, may be comparatively resistant to bioleaching, so requires the development of novel hydrometallurgical approaches for effective processing.