Leaching of copper from Kupferschiefer by organic acid and heterotrophic bacteria

Polymetallic Cu-Ag ores of the Central European Kupferschiefer deposits are one of the most important sources of Cu in Europe. Because the ores are typically complex and often exceptionally fine-grained the development of efficient alternatives to conventional beneficiation strategies are an important target of current research. Biomining – the use of biological components for metal extraction - may offer solutions that are both efficient and environmentally benign. As conventional bioleaching with acidophilic microorganisms is impeded by the high carbonate content of the Kupferschiefer ores, heterotrophic microorganisms and glutamic acid are investigated as a possible alternative in the present study. The focus of this investigation is solely on the recovery of copper from the Kupferschiefer sensu strictu. Bioleaching experiments were carried out using such material from the Polkowice Mine in Poland. This material is marked by high grade (3.8 wt% Cu), complex ore mineralogy (chalcocite, bornite, chalcopyrite and covellite in significant quantity) and a gangue mineralogy that is rich in carbonate, organic carbon and clay minerals that together form a very fine-grained matrix. (Bio)-leaching experiments yield best results when glutamic acid alone is used – reaching Cu recoveries up to 44 %. Recoveries are consistently lower in experiments in which glutamic acids and microbiological metabolites are both present. The leaching of chalcocite renders the greatest contribution to the Cu recovered to the leach solution in all experiments. It can be concluded that glutamic acid solubilise copper efficiently from Kupferschiefer, mainly from chalcocite.