Combined Recovery of Copper and Mitigation of Pollution Potential of a Synthetic Metal-Rich Stream Draining a Copper Mine in Brazil

A low pH sulfate-reducing bioreactor was used to selectively recover copper from synthetic pH 5 mine water draining a copper mine in Brazil, and also to remove other transition metals from solution. The design of the system used meant that a single bioreactor could be used for the process. Over 99% of the copper present was recovered as CuS in an off-line reactor vessel, while other metals (Ni, Co and Zn) were precipitated in the bioreactor vessel.