Bioleaching of Cu-As-containing Filter Cake Waste

Bioleaching was used to treat Cu-As-containing filter cake. The effects of pH value, temperature and strain on the bioleaching rates of Cu and As were studied, and the bioleaching mechanism and feasibility of the harmless treatment of As-bearing residue with bioleaching analyzed. The results show that Sulfobacillus sibiricu enhanced the leaching process. The leaching of As and Cu was carried out by hot acid and then leaching with bacterial suspension, the optimum conditions with the strain were obtained as: temperature of 50℃ and pH value 1.5. Under the optimum conditions, the leaching rate of As and Cu reached 91.33% and 94.22% in 7 d, respectively.