Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 2000.

247262
www.elsevier.nlrlocaterijminpro

Gold recovery from a refractory pyrrhotite ore

by biooxidation
S. Ubaldini a,) , F. Veglio` b, F. Beolchini b, L. Toro c ,
C. Abbruzzese a
a
CNR, Institute of Mineral Processing, Via Bologna 7, 00138 Rome, Italy
b
Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials, Uniersity of LAquila,
67040 Monteluco di Roio, LAquila, Italy
c
Department of Chemistry, Uniersity of La Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy

Received 30 November 1998; accepted 12 May 2000

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to study the biooxidation of a refractory gold-bearing
pyrrhotite, in order to increase the gold recovery during the subsequent conventional cyanidation.
Bacterial cultures utilised in the biological test consisted predominantly of Thiobacillus genus.
Tests were conducted at laboratory scale. The gold content of the ore sample, coming from
Bolivia, was of 10 g ty1 Au.
After 24 h leaching time by direct cyanidation, low gold recovery was obtained - 20% Au.,
with a high reagent consumption. On the other hand, a high gold recovery was achieved for the
biooxidated samples: after 24 h cyanidation gold dissolution reached about 91% Au.
Experimental results have shown the technical feasibility of the biooxidative pretreatment prior
to conventional leaching and a complete circuit of treatment, on laboratory scale, has been
developed considering also the subsequent gold recovery by carbon adsorptionrdesorption and
electrowinning.
A gold extraction yield of about 86% was determined in the whole process for gold extraction
from pyrrhotite biooxidation, solidliquid separation, cyanidation, adsorption, desorption, elec-
trowinning.. q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: biooxidation; pyrrhotite; gold recovery; process flowsheet; Thiobacillus

)
Corresponding author.

0301-7516r00r$ - see front matter q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 3 0 1 - 7 5 1 6 0 0 . 0 0 0 1 9 - 3
248 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262

1. Introduction

Cyanidation is a relatively simple and cheap technology for treating a wide range of
gold-containing ores Young, 1987.. However, sulphide ores often contain very finely
disseminated gold and other precious metal particles, which rise to the refractory nature
of such ores to current extraction methods. As a result, these fractions are frequently lost
in the tailings Abbruzzese et al., 1994; Paponetti et al., 1991.. Moreover, the formation
of some intermediate species, such as ferrous iron, sulphide ion, thiosulphates and
arsenates, can consume vital oxygen for gold dissolution in cyanide solutions. Further-
more, these species tend to precipitate the gold already oxidised Veglio` et al., 1995a.,
while the decomposition of pyrrhotite forms compounds such as thiocyanide or ferro-
cyanide that can consume free cyanide during the recovery of gold Ubaldini et al.,
1995..
The choice of process for refractory ores or concentrate treatment is based on many
technical, economic, and environmental factors. There are several ways for effective
oxidative destruction of the sulphide matrix: oxidation roasting, aqueous pressure
oxidation, bacterial oxidation and chemical oxidation Lawrence, 1990; McNulty and
Thompson, 1990; Veglio` et al., 1993b; Ubaldini et al., 1994..
Traditional methods of pretreating refractory ores, such as roasting, are no longer
satisfactory. This can be due to economic or environmental considerations, or both. With
the advent of stricter environmental regulations designed to restrict the quantities and
control the quality of wastes from mining, milling, and smelting operations, some
established techniques no longer have a technical andror economic advantage Bos,
1993; Lawrence, 1990; Lawrence and Poulin, 1995; McNulty and Thompson, 1990..
Relatively new technologies for refractory ore pretreatment are being developed to
overcome these shortcomings, notably including biological oxidation systems. The
biological pretreatment of refractory ores containing precious metals has the obvious
advantage of not requiring high-temperature or high-pressure equipment and showing
the lowest capital requirement Crundwell, 1995; Lawrence, 1990; Lawrence and Poulin,
1995; Veglio` et al., 1993a..
Biological leaching, which for many years has been applied for the recovery of
copper and uranium, has only been recently in the last 10 years. considered for the
treatment of refractory ores and concentrates containing precious metals, such as gold
Escobar, 1995.. In these cases bioleaching before cyanide leaching increases the gold
extraction from 32% to 95% Attia and El-Zeki, 1989..
For new technologies such as this, novelty is an additional factor which, even if
technical and economic parity or superiority with other technologies can be demon-
strated, can weigh against its selection as the process of choice Lawrence, 1990..
Bioleaching of sulphurous minerals for gold recovery is practiced commercially in South
Africa Van Aswegen et al., 1991. and the USA Kosich, 1991., while it is applied on
pilot plant scale in Australia Spencer et al., 1991., Canada Hackle and Wright, 1989.
and the USA Moore, 1989..
Microbial metal leaching or bioleaching is based on the ability of a special group of
acidophilic bacteria to oxidise sulphuric minerals. They convert these extremely insolu-
ble compounds into water-soluble products. Their activity results in metal mobilisation
 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262 249

and sulphuric acid production Boon et al., 1995.. The most used microorganisms are
the chemolithotrophic, acidophilic bacteria Thiobacillus ferrooxidans as well as T.
thiooxidans. They usually live at a pH range from 1.5 to 4.5 and oxidise reduced form of
iron only T. ferrooxidans. and sulphur both T. ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans. as
energy source Grishin et al., 1988.. Bacteria catalyse the oxidation of the sulphurous
matrix, letting to the subsequent dissolution of gold by cyanide leaching Abbruzzese et
al., 1994; Veglio` et al., 1993a.. In particular, the biooxidation of pyrrhotite involves
several steps of chemical and biological oxidation Pinka, 1991; Ubaldini et al., 1995;
Veglio` et al., 1995a.. The process starts by a chemical step:
FeS q 2Hq Fe 2q
q H 2 S. 1.
In the subsequent stage, bacteria oxidise pyrrhotite according to the following
reactions:
2FeS q 4.5O 2 q 3Hq 2Fe q SO q HSO q H O
3q 2y y
2.
2FeS q 1.5O q 6H 2Fe q 2S8 q 3H O.
4 4 2
q 3q
2 2 3.
Sulphur is also produced by H S decomposition:
H S q 2Fe 2Fe q 2H q S8.
2
3q 2q q
2 4.
A chemical reaction between pyrrhotite and ferric iron takes place Beolchini and
in press.:
Veglio,
FeS q 2Fe 3q 3Fe q S8. 2q
5.
Bacteria oxidise sulphur:
2S8 q 3O q 2H O 2SO q 4H .
2 2
y
4
q
6.
The main objective of this experimental work was to test this biotechnology in order
to obtain high gold extraction from pyrrhotite ores by cyanidation in a laboratory scale
Attia and El-Zeki, 1989; Paponetti et al., 1991.. Furthermore, every unit operation of
the process for gold recovery after cyanidation has been tested in a laboratory scale:
gold adsorptionrdesorption and electrowinning, in order to evaluate the main process
conditions with a high gold recovery. In this manner, an integrated process enclosing a
biological and a chemical section has been proposed, in laboratory scale.
Few data are reported in the literature for pyrrhotite bioleaching. Consequently, the
efforts to develop new treatment technologies are justified since important deposits of
gold associated to sulphide minerals occur in the world Crundwell, 1995; Ubaldini et
al., 1995..

2. Material and methods

2.1. Ore characterization

The pyrrhotite ore sample comes from Atoroma mine in Bolivia. Representative
samples were prepared and ground to y74 mm for characterization. By optical
250 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262

microscopy examination of the polished sections and scanning electron microscopy

SEM. analysis, it has been demonstrated that gold is mainly locked in submicron
inclusions within the lattice of the pyrrhotite Abbruzzese et al., 1994.. Mineralogical
characterization by X-ray diffraction spectrometry evidenced pyrrhotite and quartz,
while main additional minerals were pyrite and marcasite. Quantitative chemical analy-
sis of the elements by emission spectroscopy technique showed that gold content is
of 10 g ty1 and silver content of 9.5 g ty1 see Table 1 for complete chemical
composition..

2.2. Microorganisms

A mixed culture of microbial strains of Thiobacillus sp. was selected from Cotilia
Italy. sulphuric waters Veglio` et al., 1995a.. For the selection, cultivation, and
maintenance of microbial strains utilised in the bioleaching process, liquid and solid
media were used Visca et al., 1989; Atlas, 1993..
The selection was evaluated by monitoring Fe 3q, Fe 2q, SO4y and pH vs. time Bhatti,
1993; Ubaldini et al., 1995; Veglio` et al., 1995a.. The cultures were grown in a sterilised
9 K liquid medium in the presence of pyrrhotite as energetic substrate Paponetti et al.,
1991..

Table 1
Chemical analysis of the gold-bearing pyrrhotite from Atoroma in Bolivia
Compounds %
FeS 46.25
SiO 2 19.72
FeS 2 pyrite. 11.40
FeS 2 marcasite. 6.10
Al 2 O 3 4.57
SnO 2 1.35
FeAsS 0.85
MgO 0.68
K 2O 0.44
TiO 2 0.37
MnO 0.09
CaO 0.01
Cu 0.18
Pb 0.10
Sb 0.03
Cr 0.02
Zn 0.02
Au g ty1 . 10
Ag g ty1 . 9.5
LOI 4.87

LOI s loss on ignition.

 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262 251

Table 2
Experimental conditions of the bioleaching tests
Factors Values
Particle size mm. - 74
Pulp content % wrv. 1020
Initial pH 2.0
Stirring rate rpm. 200
Temperature 8C. 30
Time of treatment days. 730

2.3. Bioleaching tests in shaken flasks

Bioleaching experiments were planned on the basis of the main factors that influence
the biooxidative process Ahonen and Tuovinen, 1995; Bhatti, 1993; Tuovinen and
Kelly, 1973; Veglio` et al., 1995a.. In general, the sterilised pyrrhotite ore sample was
placed into each shaken flask volume 300 ml. with 100 ml of 9 K culture media and
inoculated with 10 ml of the mixed culture age of inoculum 710 days., pH was
adjusted by H 2 SO4 . The shaken flasks were placed in a rotary incubator.
Samples were taken periodically to monitor iron, sulphate, cell concentration in
solution and pH during the bioleaching process.
Table 2 shows the experimental conditions applied in the biological tests. After
bioleaching, solidliquid separation of the biooxidated residues were carried out by
filtration Millipore, 1.2 mm.. In the subsequent operation, the solid was neutralized by
CaOH. 2 , washed, dried, weighed and analysed for gold determination before cyanida-
tion average of gold content was in the range 9.910.1 g ty1 ..
2.4. Cyanidation tests
Homogeneous biotreated samples were collected, with the aim to achieve representa-
tive samples for gold recovery on laboratory scale Abbruzzese et al., 1994..
Leaching tests were conducted in hemispherical glass reactor 500 ml volume., at
atmospheric pressure. Experimental conditions of the cyanidation tests are reported in
Table 3 Abbruzzese et al., 1994.. At the start of the tests, NaCN concentration was

Table 3
Experimental conditions of the cyanidation tests
Factors Values
Particle size mm. - 74
Weight of the samples g. 100
Pulp content %. 50
pH 11
Stirring rate rpm. 200
Temperature 8C. 25
Time of treatment h. 24
NaCN concentration kg ty1 . 25
252 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262

fixed at 25 kg ty1 , after neutralization by CaOH. 2 . During the tests, the consumption of
NaCN was determined by iodometric titration and its concentration was balanced by
further addition.
Samples of cyanide leached solution were taken periodically for gold and cyanide
determination. At the end of each cyanidation test, the pulp was filtered. The solid was
exposed to gold analysis, while the solution was stored for the subsequent adsorption
stage. pH was continuously monitored and adjusted by CaOH. 2 .

2.5. Adsorptionr desorption tests

The leached gold was concentrated and purified by adsorption onto activated carbon
and subsequent desorption, on laboratory scale. The gold concentration of the solution
before adsorption was of 10 mg ly1 .
The adsorption process was carried out in stirred reactors 500 ml volume. Lu and
Bai, 1992; Paponetti et al., 1991.. Active coconut carbon, produced from CECA Italiana
Milan, Italy. was used as adsorbent: distribution of particle size was between 1 and 5
mm, benzol index 35, iodine index 130, apparent density 580 kg my3 and specific
surface 1200 m2 gy1 . Coconut shell carbon has been chosen due to its high gold loading
and excellent adsorption kinetics. The carbon was dried for several days at room
temperature before being weighed for adsorption tests.
During the tests, solution samples were withdrawn for gold determination. After
adsorption, the loaded carbon was separated from the solution by filtration. Table 4
shows the main experimental conditions.
Preliminary test of carbon-in-pulp CIP. has been carried out Adams, 1990.. Stirring
rate was increased to 300 rpm, while duration of treatment to 60 min. Carbon
concentration was fixed at 60 g ly1 pulp. After the test, the carbon was separated from
pulp by sieve with mesh - 1 mm. At the end of the test, the pulp was filtered and the
solid was submitted to gold analysis.
The adsorbed gold was stripped from carbon by a fixed bed glass column Espiell et
al., 1988.. The volume of the column was of 80 ml and it was completed with a
thermostatic bath. Experimental determinations evidenced that each column can be
loaded with 10 g of carbon. Such as in the case of the adsorption phase, the pH was
measured by a combined glassrsaturated-calomel electrode specific to measure Hq ion

Table 4
Experimental conditions of the adsorption onto activated carbon
Factors Values
Temperature 8C. 20
Carbon concentration g ly1 . 60
pH 11
Stirring rate rpm. 200
Duration min. 40
 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262 253

Table 5
Experimental conditions of the desorption from activated carbon
Factors Values
Temperature 8C. 70
Flow rate of stripping solution ml miny1 . 5
Cyanide concentration g ly1 . 10
Ethanol concentration % vrv. 10
pH 11
Duration h. 24

concentration.. The stripping solution passed from the bottom of the fixed bed of
carbon, being fed from a 1000-ml glass tank via a peristaltic pump. Table 5 summarises
the experimental conditions.

2.6. Electrowinning

The auriferous solution was electrowon in a laboratory-scale electrolytic glass cell of

300 ml of capacity, equipped with a thermostatic water jacket. An AMEL mod. 555 B
potentiostatgalvanostat apparatus, equipped with an instrument system to automatically
control process parameters, was used for the electrowinning tests.
Metallic gold was recovered onto a steel cathode, while platinum wire was used as
the anode. The reference electrode was a saturated calomel electrode with standard
constant potential at constant temperature. The cathodic useful surface was 60 cm2 , the
external surface being made inert by using insulating plastic material.
The electrolysis tests were carried out treating 200 ml of gold cyanide solution 60
mg ly1 Au., coming from desorption stage, at constant temperature and at constant
cathodic voltage. The current intensity was measured by a digital multimeter Gallagher
et al., 1989.. Gold concentration was measured by spectrophotometry during electro-de-
position. Quality of gold deposit on cathode surface was determined by X-ray diffrac-
tion.
The experimental conditions of the electrowinning tests are reported in Table 6.

Table 6
Experimental conditions of the electrowinning tests
Factors Values
Bath temperature 8C. 40
Cell voltage V. y1.2
Current intensity mA. 60
pH 11
Duration min. 60
254 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262

2.7. Chemical and biological determinations

Ferrous and ferric iron were evaluated colorimetrically, after reaction with KSCN,
and sulphate ions turbidimetrically, after reaction with BaCl 2 , using UVVis spectro-
photometer technique Veglio` et al., 1995a.. The evaluation of microbial growth was
performed by microscopy cell counting utilising Thoma counting chambers Beolchini et
al., in press.. The initial cell concentration was of about 1.4 = 10 8 cells mly1 of
suspension.
Solutions were analysed for gold determination by atomic absorption spectrophotom-
eter Perkin-Elmer mod. 460..

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Bioleaching of pyrrhotite

This investigation was realised on the basis of the previous data obtained by factorial
experiments Ubaldini et al., 1995; Veglio` et al., 1993b.. It was demonstrated that
4045% iron dissolution occurs in the presence of 1020% of mineral concentration,
after 7 days of biooxidation time, at initial pH 2.
In the present study, biological tests have been carried out extending the time of
treatment to 30 days, checking the microbial growth. The aim was to verify the
behaviour of biotreatment during a longer period and its effect on gold extraction yields
by cyanidation. The cell concentration in solution, pH evolution, total iron, ferric iron
and sulphate were monitored vs. time Figs. 14.. Fig. 1 shows the behaviour of
microbial growth during bioleaching experiments. It is evident that at 10% pulp content,
the cell concentration in solution is larger than the one at 20% pulp content. This fact
may be due to the relation between cell adsorption and mineral concentration Konishi et
al., 1994.. In fact, the amount of adsorbed cells increases with the solution ore content.
Consequently, cell concentration results are lower in the case of the highest pulp
content. Furthermore, the adsorption of cells onto the mineral surface has been demon-
strated elsewhere to follow Langmuir law Beolchini et al., in press; Veglio et al., in
press.. Fig. 1 also shows that cell concentration was maximum during the first day of
bioprocess, as in the case of 20% of ore concentration. This was probably associated to
the pH vs. time profile Fig. 2.. In fact, it presents a maximum too, corresponding to
about 4.3. This value is far from the optimum pH for microbial activity, that is about 2,
so that cells might be desorbed from the mineral Touvinen and Kelly, 1973.. This
initial increasing of pH might be due to the chemical step described by the reaction 1..
In fact, it has also been observed in the blank test not shown here. and is proportional
to pyrrhotite concentration. The subsequent decreasing of pH after 7 days of bioleaching
is similar for both ore concentrations, which is related to the bacterial activity. In fact,
this behaviour was not observed in the blank test not reported here. and was related to
the oxidation of sulphur as described by the reaction 4. and the precipitation of Fe 3q
Fig. 3. Toro et al., 1988.. Fig. 3 shows that ferric iron concentrations are relatively low
 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262 255

Fig. 1. Microbial growth during the biological tests at two different pulp densities.

Fig. 2. Trend of pH during biological tests 10% and 20% pulp densities..
256 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262

Fig. 3. Fe total and Fe 3q vs. time in bioleaching test 10% and 20% pulp densities..

for both leaching conditions 10% and 20% pulp concentration.. Consequently, most of
the dissolved iron is in the form of ferrous iron. This might be due to the limiting
oxygen conditions. Oxygen plays an important role on the biooxidation in shaken flasks:
this is suggested by Eqs. 2., 3., and 6., where oxygen appears as a reagent.
Therefore, this process cannot take place in abiotic conditions. Theoretical stoichiomet-
ric considerations demonstrate the limiting oxygen conditions during the bioleaching
tests. Gassing-out tests Veglio` et al., 1995b,c. showed that the overall oxygen mass
transfer in shaken flasks is about 0.09 miny1 , in the investigated experimental condition,
with an oxygen supply of about 0.06 mg miny1 of O 2 Veglio` et al., 1995b,c.. On the
other hand, an oxygen requirement of about 0.08 mg miny1 was estimated during the
bioleaching tests when mineral concentration is 10%, considering the reactions involved
in the bioleaching process Veglio` et al., 1995a.. A further confirmation of limiting
oxygen conditions is given by sulphate profiles Fig. 4.. In fact, they are similar and the
result does not depend on the ore concentration. Consequently, oxygen-limiting condi-
tions seem to play an important role during bioleaching in shaken flasks. For this reason,
lower ore concentrations have been used in the bioleaching tests, in order to develop a
kinetic model for the bioleaching process Veglio et al., in press. in the absence of
oxygen-limiting conditions. In the present case, the main aim of the bioleaching tests
was the production of significant quantities of biotreated ores to be exposed to further
treatments for gold recovery. Consequently, it was not effective to perform trials at low
ore concentration. Obviously, higher concentrations should be employed for an indus-
 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262 257

Fig. 4. Behaviour of dissolution of SO42y during bioleaching tests.

trial application, even higher than 20%. In that case, mechanically aerated conditions
might be used, in order to avoid oxygen-limiting conditions.
Fig. 5 shows iron extraction yields vs. time profiles during bioleaching tests. It is
evident that similar iron extraction yields have been achieved in both experimental
conditions 10% and 20% ore concentration.: about 50% iron extraction yield are
obtained after 15 days of treatment. On the other hand, no significant iron extraction
yields - 10%. have been observed in the blank test, in the absence of Thiobacillus
data not shown..

3.2. Cyanidation of the bioleached residues

Cyanidation tests have been performed both on non-treated pyrrhotite as is samples.

and on bioleached samples. An average experimental error of about 2.5% was deter-
mined Davies, 1979., from three replications of the experimental tests. Considering the
non-treated samples, only 6.2% Au was recovered after 2 h, while 19.7% Au recovery
was obtained after 24 h leaching, with high NaCN and lime concentrations. In light of
this result, it is possible to affirm that the ore sample is refractory under the processing
aspect, because the response to conventional treatment for gold extraction is negative.
The bioleaching residues were then collected, obtaining homogeneous samples as
concerns the gold content about 10 g ty1 Au., in order to evaluate the effect of the
biotreatment on the subsequent cyanidation tests for gold recovery loss of weight by
biooxidation was about 50%.. The obtained results evidenced gold recoveries signifi-
258 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262

Fig. 5. Curves of iron extraction yield IEY. at different pulp densities.

cantly higher than those obtained from direct cyanidation. In fact, 42.2% Au was
obtained just after 2 h, while 67.3% Au and 84.1% Au were dissolved after 10 and 24 h,
respectively Table 7., from samples 7 days bioleached. Increasing the time of biotreat-
ment to 30 days, gold dissolution increased to 51.2% after 2 h, to 72.5% Au after 10 h,
and to 91% Au after 24 h of cyanidation Table 7..
Lime consumption was 10.1 kg ty1 for as is samples, while it was about 18 and 19
kg ty1 for the pretreated samples after 7 and 30 days of bioleaching, respectively Table
8.. As for pretreated samples, the higher consumption is mainly due to the operation of
neutralization.
Cyanide consumption increases from 16 kg ty1 without bioleaching. to about 21 kg
y1
t 7 days bioleaching. and to about 22 kg ty1 30 days bioleaching. Table 8.. This
increase can be explained considering that pyrrhotite is a common refractory mineral

Table 7
Gold recovery by cyanidation, without biological pretreatment or after 7 and 30 days of biooxidation
Time Without bioleaching After 7 days bioleaching After 30 days bioleaching
h. %Au. %Au. %Au.
2 6.2 42.2 51.2
10 15.3 67.3 72.5
24 19.7 84.1 91.0
 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262 259

Table 8
Cyanidation process: consumption of reagents
Process route CaOH. 2 kg ty1 . NaCN kg ty1 .
Without bioleaching 10.1 16.0
7 days bioleaching 18.2 21.2
30 days bioleaching 19.1 22.1

and its decomposition forms ferrocyanide which removes free cyanide from solution
Veglio` et al., 1995a..

3.3. Purification and precipitation of the gold

In this section, the results obtained in the unit operations aimed at the recovery of
pure gold after cyanidation are presented. As for the purification cycle adsorptionrde-
sorption., 98.1% Au was adsorbed onto activated carbon, obtaining 0.2 g kgy1 Au of
carbon data confirm the high gold loading and excellent adsorption kinetics of the
carbon utilised., while 98.9% Au was stripped during desorption phase. Gold was
concentrated from 10 mg ly1 Au leached solution. to 60 mg ly1 Au. The results are
very interesting; in fact, this cycle consists of innovative operations aimed at purification
and concentration of gold. Furthermore, regeneration studies have demonstrated that it is
possible to utilise the unloaded carbon four times after chemical regeneration with
dilute solution of HCl at pH 5. and thermal treatment at high temperature 5008C..
Moreover, by preliminary test of CIP about 95% Au was adsorbed onto activated
carbon; the activated carbon showed a good attrition resistance: the loss of carbon was
of 0.2 g kgy1 ore for each cycle adsorptionrdesorption.
As for the precipitation step, 97.8% Au was recovered by electrowinning the
concentrated and purified solution. The final concentration of gold in the barren
solutions 1 mg ly1 . resulted after 60 min of electrolysis. The gold deposit on cathode
surface was of good quality high compactness and purity.. The current efficiency was
low 6.5% after 60 min. due to the concurrent parasitic reactions at the electrodes, while
the energetic consume was of 18 kW hy1 kgy1 Au recovered.
The implementation of the electrowinning in industrial scale, together with the
application of cathode with a high surface, could improve the efficiency and the
economy of the process.
Table 9 summarises gold recovery obtained in each unit operation of the process. It is
possible to observe that 86.3% Au recovery was achieved by the complete circuit of
treatment, on laboratory scale.

Table 9
Gold recovery for each section of the complete flowsheet
Bioleachingcyanidation Purification Precipitation Total recovery
%Au. %Au. %Au. %Au.
91.0 97.0 97.8 86.3
260 S. Ubaldini et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 60 (2000) 247262

4. Conclusions

In this work, an integrated process for gold recovery from the auriferous pyrrhotite
coming from Atoroma mine Bolivia. has been investigated at a laboratory scale. The
biological pretreatment prior to the conventional leaching has been demonstrated to lead
to high gold recovery. In fact, only 19.7% Au recovery was obtained, by direct
cyanidation of Atoroma ore, with high reagent concentration. On the other hand, bench
scale bacterial oxidation experiments permitted achievement of higher gold recovery:
about 84% Au was obtained from samples bioleached 7 days, while 91% Au was
achieved from samples bioleached 30 days, in batch conditions.
The gold recovery of the whole process bioleaching, solidliquid separation,
cyanidation, purification and precipitation. was about 86% Au. Moreover, the recovered
gold was demonstrated to have good characteristics.
Further work is in progress, aimed at the process scaling up. In particular, a technical
and economical comparison of two gold extraction processes, cyanidation with and
without biotreatment, will be carried out, considering that there are many possibilities
for technology transfer in the East-Europe, that could benefit from this biotechnology.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. A. Nardini, Mr. M. Centofanti, Mr. P. Fornari, Mr. R.
Massidda and Ms. Emanuela Tempesta for their helpful collaboration in the experimen-
tal work; moreover, the authors thank Mr. Giampaolo Marruzzo for the X-ray analysis.

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