A copper mine has low grade copper ore that contains CuFeS_2. The mine operation

Question

A copper mine has low grade copper ore that contains CuFeS_2. The mine operation wants to extract the Cu from the ore They have built a system that trickles a mixture of oxygenated water and bacteria through their ore piles and then they collect the leachate that runs out the bottom of the pile What are they hoping to accomplish? They are enriching for sulfate assimilating bacteria that will assimilate S from the ore, thereby solubilizing the CuFeS_2 and releasing the Cu so that it can be collected from the leachate They are enriching for sulfate reducing bacteria that will reduce the S_2 in the ore to sulfuric acid, thereby solubilizing the CuFeS_2 and releasing the Cu so that it can be collected from the leachate. They are enriching for iron reducing bacteria that will oxidize the Fe in the ore, thereby solubilizing the CuFeS_2 and releasing the Cu so that it can be collected from the leachate. They are enriching for neutrophilic sulfide oxidizing bacteria that will oxidize the S_2 in the ore to sulfide, which in turn will react chemically with the ore to liberate Cu so that it can be collected from the leachate They are enriching for acidophilic sufide oxidizing bacteria that will oxidize the S_2 in the ore to sulfuric acid, thereby solubilizing the CuFeS_2 and releasing the Cu so that it can be collected from the leachate.

Explanation / Answer

They are enriching for acidophilic sulfide oxidizing bacteria that will oxidize the S2 in the ore to sulfuric acid thereby solubilizing the CuFeS2 and releasing the Cu so that it can be collected from the leachate.

Net process is as shown in below

CuFeS2 + 4O2 Cu 2+ + Fe2+ + 2SO42-

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.