Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Studies On The Biological Oxidation Of Ferrous Iron And Chalcopyrite, Loral Alvin Decker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effectiveness of the leaching streams from waste copper ore dumps as a nutrient solution for subsequent biological oxidation and solubilization of sulfide minerals. The copper in the leaching streams is precipitated by displacement with iron. As a result of this procedure the solution is high in ferrous iron concentration and has a pH of near 3.7. The bacteria in the leaching streams are capable of oxidizing ferrous iron to the ferric state and sulfide minerals to sulfates. The effects of temperatures, pH, urea, and aeration rate on the oxidation of the …