Copper precipitation by the sulfidogenic bacteria Desulfosporosinus sp. DB, isolated from gold mine tailings in Kuznetsk Basin, Russia
Copper sulfides formation by the acidotolerant sulfidogenic bacteria Desulfosporosinus sp. DB isolated from oxidized sediments of gold mine tailings in Kuznetsk Basin (Russia) has been studied. Scanning electron microscopy and XRD analysis were applied for characterization of the precipitates formed during cultivation in presence of Cu(II) ions. The possibility of selective sulfides formation depending on cultivation time has been shown. The only chalcopyrite phase was formed during 54 days cultivation. Thus the sulfidogenic bacteria Desulfosporosinus sp. DB is perspective for application in industrial processes of selective copper recovery supplemented with wastes decontamination.