Bioleaching of Pyrite for Producing of Fe3+

Ferric iron works as an oxidizing agent of copper sulfide particularly for chalcopyrite and by adding ferric iron with certain concentration, leaching rates of chalcopyrite could be increased. Using ferric iron is costly. In this study, the possibility of production of ferric iron from pyrite by mesophile bacteria are investigated. In this regard, using mesophile bacteria, bioleaching of an index sample of pyrite of Sarcheshmeh copper mine was evaluated and impact of pH, various media (9K, 0.9K and Norris) and the pulp density was investigated. The result showed that maximum recovery of iron was obtained at, pH=1.6, medium 9k and pulp density 5, was 62.6 percent with the highest production of ferric ions (Fe3+).