Open AccessBacterial leaching of two Swedish zinc sulfide ores
Author(s) -
Krafft Christopher,
Hallberg Roll O.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6976.1993.tb00275.x
Subject(s) - leaching (pedology) , zinc , sulfide , ammonium , ammonia , phosphate , metallurgy , chemistry , sulfur , nuclear chemistry , materials science , biology , biochemistry , soil water , ecology , organic chemistry
Two Swedish zinc sulfide ores, from Saxberget (S‐ore) and Kristineberg (K‐ore), respectively, were compared for bacterial leachability with respect to grain size, and additions of ammonia, iron and phosphate. 87 days of column leaching resulted in 2.4–3.2 g Zn/I in solution and 1.5–1.9 g Cu/I from the K‐ore and 1.2–5.3 g Zn/l and 0–0.3 g Cu/l from the S‐ore. The highest values were achieved for grain sizes between 16 and 64 mm. Ammonium showed a stimulating effect on bacterial leaching, increasing leached Zn in the K‐ore from 27% to 35% and from 7% up to 70% Zn in the S‐ore after 53 days of batch leaching. Phosphate additions showed negative effects. Iron additions had a positive effect for the K‐ore, increasing the leaching from 48% to 78% Zn at an addition of 6 mg Fe 2+ .