METHOD OF LEACHING COPPER SULFIDE ORES CONTAINING CHALCOPYRITE
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of recovering copper from primary copper sulfide ores containing chalcopyrite as a main constituent under versatile conditions for real operation in all efficient and cost-effective manner. A method of leaching copper sulfide ores, wherein the growth of microorganisms present on ore surfaces and in a leaching solution is inhibited and the pH of the leaching solution is adjusted to 1.5 or less upon leaching of copper from copper sulfide ores containing chalcopyrite, is provided.
1 . A method of leaching copper sulfide ores, wherein the growth of microorganisms present on ore surfaces and in a leaching solution is inhibited and the pH of the leaching solution is adjusted to 1.5 or less upon leaching of copper from copper sulfide ores containing chalcopyrite.
2 . The method of leaching copper sulfide ores according to claim 1 , wherein the growth of microorganisms is inhibited by heating ores to 100° C. or more prior to leaching.
3 . The method of leaching copper sulfide ores according to claim 1 , wherein the growth of microorganisms is inhibited by treating ores with an agent capable of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms prior to leaching.
4 . The method of leaching copper sulfide ores according to claim 1 , wherein the growth of microorganisms is inhibited by adding an agent capable of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms to a leaching solution.
5 . The method of teaching copper sulfide ores according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the microorganisms are chemoautotrophic bacteria.