Bacterial leaching of Sikkim zinc concentrate, containing 35% of zinc, was carried out in a bioreactor using acidophilic microorganisms. During leaching aeration was done in order to activate the microorganisms. At 2% pulp density, the percentage of zinc leaching was about 1.8 times compared to that at 10% pulp density. Bacterial growth at 10% pulp density was more in comparison to 2% pulp density. Other parameters like acid consumption and bacterial concentrations were monitored both at 2% and 10% pulp densities. Zinc dissolution was observed to obey first order kinetics.
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