Influence of Organic Carbon Source on Biooxidation of Sulfide Concentrate

— The goal of the present work was to determine the effect of different concentrations of an organic carbon source (molasses) on the biooxidation of gold-bearing pyrite−arsenopyrite flotation concentrate, as well as on the composition of microbial populations that formed during the biooxidation process. Biooxidation activity increased with increasing molasses concentration in the medium. Concentration of molasses had a greater effect on the total number of microorganisms, while the relative numbers of microorganisms of different groups did not differ significantly. Thus, it was shown that the use of cheap organic substrates is promising to increase the efficiency of biohydrometallurgical processes.