Microbial solubilization of copper and zinc from polymetallic sulphide ore

Abstract

The object of this study was to investigate the possibility of copper and zinc leaching from polymetallic sulphide ore from the Bobija deposit (Western Serbia) by Acidithiobacillus sp.B2. Iron-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus sp. B2 was isolated from copper sulphide mine wastewater (Lake Robule) in Bor, Serbia. The bacterium was identified by 16SrDNA oligonuckotide sequence. Leaching experiment by the shake flask testing technique was performed during a period of four weeks ata temperature of 28 °C. The percentage of Cu and Zn leached at the end of this experiment was 65% and 67% respectively. This study shows that iron-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus sp. B2 can have a very important role in the extraction of copper and zinc, from polymetallic sulphide ore from the Bobija deposit.