INFLUENCIA DE LA TEMPERATURA EN EL CRECIMIENTO DE UN CONSORCIO MICROBIANO Y SU CAPACIDAD BIOXIDATIVA SOBRE EL HIERRO DE LA CALCOPIRITA.

The influence of the temperature on the microbial growth and the biooxidation of the iron present in chalcopyrite by a microbial consortium was determined. We worked with chalcopyriterich samples from the tailings of the leach piles of the Southern Peru Copper mining company. These samples were subjected to an enrichment culture and a subsequent 9K broth culture to obtain the microbial bioleaching consortium as inoculum. There were 4 experimental treatments at 25, 40, 55 and 70 °C, with a double repetition. Each treatment contained the microbial inoculum, the 9K culture medium and chalcopyrite ore. The treatment that obtained the greatest biooxidation of Fe2+ and the highest microbial concentration was the experiment carried out at 70 °C. It was statistically determined that the temperature had no influence on the biomass increase or on the biooxidation of iron from copper pyrite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]