Bioleaching of Complex Refractory Gold Ore Concentrate of China: Comparison of Shake Flask and Continuous Bioreactor

Abstract

The laboratory tests of biooxidation and cyanidation were carried out by using samples of the complex refractory gold ore from China. The elemental composition was 16.8 % iron, 18.6 % sulfur, 4.88 % arsenic，2.30 % carbon and 3.49 % antimony. Gold is assayed at 46 g/t. The arsenic oxidation of 88.11 %，carbon removal rate of 32.34 % and antimony oxidation of 23.92 % over 16d was achieved in shake flasks in the presence of the mixed culture (HQ0211: Thiobacillus ferrooxidans Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans). The continuous bioreactor tests resulted in greater dissolution rates for arsenic, carbon and antimony, which led to a greater extent of sulphide oxidation within a shorter period of time. The maximum oxidation of arsenic and antimony was 90.72 % and 40.09 % respectively and the removal rate of carbon is 63.48% after 8d in the continuous bioreactor tests. After bioleaching, the gold recovery of the oxidation residue was 98.02 % with the cyanidation method, which was showed the biological pretreatment was applicable to the complex refractory gold ore.