Bioleaching and dissolution kinetics of pyrite, chalcocite and covellite

In this work, the bioleaching process of pyrite, chalcocite and covellite which were the main phase compositions for Zijin copper mineral was comprehensively studied. The influence parameters, such as leaching temperature, Fe3+ concentration, pH of solution and bacteria concentration were investigated. The leaching kinetics of the pyrite, chalcocite and covellite under the studied conditions was successfully modeled by an empirical diffusion-like equation, respectively. The apparent activity energy of pyrite leaching, chalcocite leaching (stage II) and covellite leaching was calculated to be 69.29, 65.02 and 84.97 kJ/mol, respectively.