Biorremoción de iones de hierro de la solución de refinado de cobre utilizando “semilla” de jarosita biosintética promovida por Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

The decrease of iron ions concentration from raffinate solution in copper solvent extraction is significant to maintain good current efficiency. In this study, the combined effects of biosynthetic jarosite seed and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans on iron removal of copper raffinate solution and effect of pH were investigated. Ammonium jarosite seeds biosynthesis was performed efficiently at pH 2 and Fe2+ concentration of 50 g·l-1. The percentage of iron removal from raffinate solution at pH of 1.5, 2.5 and 5% seed dosage were 0.81%, 47.38%, and 71.26%, respectively. The iron concentration in raffinate solution was eliminated noticeably up to 71.17% with the incorporation of 10 wt.% jarosite seed and 10% V/V A. ferrooxidans together. This was due to the increase in specific solids surface in the solution and magnetic features of A. ferrooxidans which promoting the removal of iron. pH 2 and jarosite seed loading of 10% was selected as the optimum conditions for iron removal from the raffinate solution. It was concluded that the recovery of copper from biologically refined raffinate could be increased.