Bioleaching of chalcopyrite and bornite by moderately thermophilic bacteria：an emphasis on their interactions

Interactions between chalcopyrite and bornite during bioleaching by moderately thermophilic bacteria were investigated mainly by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical measurements performed in conjunction with bioleaching experiments. The results showed that a synergistic effect existed between chalcopyrite and bornite during bioleaching by bothAcidithiobacillus caldus and Leptospirillum ferriphilum and that extremely high copper extraction could be achieved when chalcopyrite and bornite coexisted in a bioleaching system. Bornite dissolved preferentially because of its lower corrosion potential, and its dissolution was accelerated by the gal-vanic current during the initial stage of bioleaching. The galvanic current and optimum redox potential of 390?480 mV vs. Ag/AgCl pro-moted the reduction of chalcopyrite to chalcocite (Cu2S), thus accelerating its dissolution.