A bacterial leaching study was carried out in order to evaluate the potential of two stage bioleaching process, (1) Biological oxidation of Fe++ solution and (2) Leaching of copper by the acidic Fe +++ sulfate solution, from Saindak copper-gold ore. In first stage, the isolated strain of Thiobacillus ferrooxidan oxidized the Fe++ iron in 360 hrs up to a concentration of 2950 ppm Fe+++ iron, and decreased the pH of the medium from 2.0 to 1.5. The oxidation of Fe++ iron was higher in log phase of bacterial growth. In second stage, in columns dia. 2.5", length 48", 74.86 per cent copper was leached in 144 hrs at 35 ±2 °C. 1:1 ratio of ore: leaching solution was found the best for these columns. In large size columns (dia. 6", length 96") containing 60 kg ore, 88.39 per cent copper leaching was achieved in 128 hrs at 35 ±5°C, however the efficiency of Fe+++ iron was decreased. <br>
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