Investigation of the optimal technology

This work aimed to investigate the optimal leaching technology for copper extraction from old flotation tailings of the Copper Mine Bor. The research involved multiple leaching experiments utilizing different methods, including leaching with sulphuric acid at 80 °C, which achieved a copper leaching degree of 50% after 30 minutes. Additionally, experiments were conducted using adapted moderately thermophilic acidophilic bacteria in a bioreactor at 40 °C, resulting in a maximal leaching degree of 84% after nine days. Furthermore, a third experiment utilized a biogenic lixiviant obtained from bacterial oxidation of ferrous iron, which was then employed in a leaching process at 80 °C, yielding a highest leaching degree of 78% after a mere five minutes. The results of these experiments indicate that the most effective method for recovering copper from the old flotation tailings of the Copper Mine Bor is leaching with a biogenic lixiviant. This study contributes valuable insights into efficient copper extraction technologies from mining waste, highlighting the potential for utilizing biotechnological approaches in mineral recovery processes.