Rodrigues, Michael Leonardo MarquesSantos, Guilherme H. A.Leôncio, Hamilton CristianoLeão, Versiane Albis2020-09-082020-09-082019RODRIGUES, M. L. M. et al. Column bioleaching of fluoride-containing secondary copper sulfide ores: experiments with Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, v. 6, n. 183, fev. 2019. Disponível em: <https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2018.00183/full>. Acesso em: 10 mar. 2020.2296-4185http://www.repositorio.ufop.br/handle/123456789/12708Bioleaching is a mature technology, which is widely employed commercially in the leaching of primary sources of metals (ores, concentrates, and mine residues). The current work discussed the effects of aluminum sulfate additions to the growth medium, PLS recirculation and bleeding on the column bioleaching of secondary copper sulfide ores with a significant content of fluoride-containing minerals. Fluoride is toxic to bacteria at the pH of bioleaching but its toxicity may be overcome in the presence of soluble aluminum and ferric iron. Therefore, experiments were carried out in 10 × 100 cm height aerated columns, loaded with 10 kg of crushed and agglomerated copper ore and inoculated with Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans. Initially, fluoride concentrations of up to 2.5 g/L in the pregnant leach solution were observed due to the fast dissolution of fluoride-bearing minerals. Aluminum was added to the leaching solution to reduce the Al/F ratio so that the concentration of HF (the main toxic species) was decreased, but while the total fluoride concentration was higher than that of aluminum, the bacterial population as low. Therefore, the current work emphasizes that it is possible to set up conditions to enable bioleaching even at high fluoride concentrations. Following this approach, copper extractions above 90% were achieved for a H2SO4 consumption ranging from 128.8 to 206.1 Kg/ton.en-USabertoAluminumFluorideArtigo publicado em periodicoThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Fonte: o próprio artigohttps://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2018.00183