Thermophilic vs. mesophilic bioleaching process performance

Mesophilic and thermophilic mineral oxidising microbial cultures were compared for their capacity to leach both a complex pyritic and an arsenopyritic ore, aiming at copper and gold recovery, respectively.The mesophilic cultures are primarily based on the activity of Thiobacillus-type microorganisms, while the thermophile characteristics place them in the sulphur metabolizers branch df Archaebacteria.Study of key process variables and determination of their optimum values were carried out to provide a basis for significant physiological and technical comparison.Each microbial culture finds a preferential process application, depending on the choice of the reactor and ore.