Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Department
Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Committee Chair
Eung Ha Cho.
Abstract
Chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and pyrite, were leached using a bioleaching mode and an electrobioleaching mode. The former mode was used to teach the minerals with the bacterium A. ferrooxidans in a bioreactor. In the latter mode, the leaching of the minerals was performed in a combination of a bioreactor and an electrochemical cell. The idea is that an increase in Fe(II) concentration, which is a nutrient of the bacteria, by electrochemical reduction of Fe(III) would increase the bacterial population and in turn would accelerate the leaching of the mineral.;It has been found that the electrobioleaching of chalcopyrite and pyrite is superior to the bioleaching in particular with respect to the fact that leaching conversion is higher and a high level of Fe(II) can be maintained. However, the electrobioleaching of sphalerite does not show an improvement over bioleaching.
Recommended Citation
Conner, Brian D., "Bioleaching and electrobioleaching of sulfide minerals" (2005). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 1588.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1588