Causes of inhibition of bioleaching by Cu are also thermodynamic

Mazuelos Rojas, AlfonsoGarcía Tinajero, Carlos J.Romero Aleta, RafaelIglesias González, María NievesCarranza Mora, Francisco2024-03-222024-03-222019-01Mazuelos Rojas, A., García Tinajero, C.J., Romero Aleta, R., Iglesias González, M.N. y Carranza Mora, F. (2019). Causes of inhibition of bioleaching by Cu are also thermodynamic. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 94 (1), 185-194. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.5761.0268-25751097-4660https://hdl.handle.net/11441/156507BACKGROUND: Cu is an indispensable natural resource for society, as its use is widespread and essential for many technologies. Consequently, worldwide production is around 18×106 tn year−1, and close to 25% is produced by bioleaching. Bioleaching enables Cu extraction from minerals in atmospheric conditions by virtue of the catalytic activity of microorganisms. Microbial catalysis is mainly based on Fe3+ production as a leaching agent, a process known as Fe2+ bio-oxidation. However, bio-oxidation is inhibited by Cu2+ which limits the use of bioleaching with Cu mineral ores. RESULTS: This paper, for the first time, examines the effect of Cu2+ on continuous Fe2+ bio-oxidation using a packed bed bioreactor with supported cells. Bio-oxidation was possible in the presence of 20 g L−1 Cu2+, with a less than 25% reduction in rate. About 15% of this drop in rate is due to biological inhibition and the rest to a reduction in oxygen solubility because of salting-out. The biotic effect is reversed when Cu2+ is removed from the input, and the salting-out effect can be overcome by improving aeration conditions. CONCLUSION: These results, apart from having important ramifications for designing Cu ore bioleaching facilities, contribute to a more versatile and competitive idea of this clean technology.application/pdf39 p.engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/BioleachingBioreactorHeavy metalsHydrometallurgyMass transferCauses of inhibition of bioleaching by Cu are also thermodynamicinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.5761