TY - JOUR
T1 - Catalytic mechanism of activated carbon-assisted bioleaching of enargite concentrate
AU - Oyama, Keishi
AU - Shimada, Kazuhiko
AU - Ishibashi, Junichiro
AU - Sasaki, Keiko
AU - Miki, Hajime
AU - Okibe, Naoko
PY - 2020/9
Y1 - 2020/9
N2 - The catalytic mechanism of activated carbon-assisted bioleaching of enargite concentrate (enargite 37.4%; pyrite 47.3%) was investigated by employing microbiological, electrochemical and kinetic studies. By using moderately thermophilic microorganisms at 45 °C, the final Cu dissolution was improved from 36% to 53% at 0.2% (w/v) activated carbon. An excess activated carbon addition showed an adverse effect. The enargite mineral itself favored higher solution redox potential (Eh) for solubilization. However, the dissolution of co-existing pyrite, which also favors high Eh, immediately hindered enargite dissolution through the passivation effect. The surface of activated carbon functioned as an electron mediator to couple RISCs oxidation and Fe3+ reduction, so that elevation of the Eh level was controlled by offsetting microbial Fe3+ regeneration. As long as the Eh level was suppressed at <700 mV, the dissolution of pyrite was largely avoided, enabling a steady and continuous dissolution of the enargite mineral through the surface chemical reaction model. When the Eh-control by activated carbon becomes no longer sustainable and the Eh hits 700 mV, rapid pyrite dissolution was initiated and the surface chemical reaction of enargite dissolution came to an end. Arsenic species dissolved from enargite was constantly immobilized with an efficiency of 75–90% as amorphous ferric arsenate. However, the sudden initiation of pyrite dissolution also triggered the re-solubilization of ferric arsenate. Therefore, the sustainable Eh-controlling effect was shown to be critical to enable longer Cu dissolution from enargite as well as stabilization of As precipitates.
AB - The catalytic mechanism of activated carbon-assisted bioleaching of enargite concentrate (enargite 37.4%; pyrite 47.3%) was investigated by employing microbiological, electrochemical and kinetic studies. By using moderately thermophilic microorganisms at 45 °C, the final Cu dissolution was improved from 36% to 53% at 0.2% (w/v) activated carbon. An excess activated carbon addition showed an adverse effect. The enargite mineral itself favored higher solution redox potential (Eh) for solubilization. However, the dissolution of co-existing pyrite, which also favors high Eh, immediately hindered enargite dissolution through the passivation effect. The surface of activated carbon functioned as an electron mediator to couple RISCs oxidation and Fe3+ reduction, so that elevation of the Eh level was controlled by offsetting microbial Fe3+ regeneration. As long as the Eh level was suppressed at <700 mV, the dissolution of pyrite was largely avoided, enabling a steady and continuous dissolution of the enargite mineral through the surface chemical reaction model. When the Eh-control by activated carbon becomes no longer sustainable and the Eh hits 700 mV, rapid pyrite dissolution was initiated and the surface chemical reaction of enargite dissolution came to an end. Arsenic species dissolved from enargite was constantly immobilized with an efficiency of 75–90% as amorphous ferric arsenate. However, the sudden initiation of pyrite dissolution also triggered the re-solubilization of ferric arsenate. Therefore, the sustainable Eh-controlling effect was shown to be critical to enable longer Cu dissolution from enargite as well as stabilization of As precipitates.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.hydromet.2020.105417
DO - 10.1016/j.hydromet.2020.105417
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85088219353
VL - 196
JO - Hydrometallurgy
JF - Hydrometallurgy
SN - 0304-386X
M1 - 105417
ER -