Assay of bacterial copper leaching from covellin at alkaline initial pH.
Copper sulphide CuS was leached by bacteria. Beginning with an initial pH of 9.1, the bacteria acidified the environment and at the same time leached up to 5 g copper per liter. It is characteristic that the pH may sometimes stabilize at 4.0--5.0 and not fall below this value.
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013855:Thiobacillus / Q000378:metabolism*
D003470:Culture Media; D013440:Sulfides; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; D003300:Copper