A Comparison of the Leaching Efficiencies of the Three Strains of Thiobacillus caldus in Comparison to a Moderately Thermophilic Iron Oxidiser
Mark DOPSON* and E. Borje LINDSTROM
Department of Microbiology, Umea University, S-901 87 Umea, Sweden
A study has been carried out comparing the efficiencies of the three known isolates of Thiobacillus caldus (strains KU, BC13 and C-SH12) for leaching of a refractory gold containing the arsenical pyrite ore. The efficiency of the leaching of the three isolates has been carried out in comparison to, and in conjunction with the moderately thermophilic iron oxidiser (MTFe). The aim of the study was to find if any of the three T. cardus strains are more efficient than the others for leaching of gold containing ores by comparison of the leaching rates. The hypothesis that T. caldus increases the efficiency of bioleaching operations by removal of sulfur that builds up in the medium by measuring the total amount of sulfur in comparison to the MTFe culture alone has been tested along with if the removal of the sulfur has any impact on cyanidation for the removal of the gold from the leachate.
