The bioleaching of fine low grade copper sulfide ore is described. A sample of ground (>1 mm) copper ore from Sarcheshmeh, Iran, was subjected to a series of agglomeration procedures and subsequently leached. The best agglomerate was obtained by using lime and sulfuric acid as binders. A column bioleaching test of agglomerated ore was then run for 105 days along with a non-inoculated control column having thymol as bactericide. The results show that about 77.5 percent of copper was extracted in the bioleaching, whereas the control column achieved only 57 percent copper leaching.
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