PROCEDIMIENTO PARA AUMENTAR EL CALOR GENERADO EN LA PILA, EN UNA LIXIVIACION MICROBIANA A TEMPERATURAS TERMOFILICAS QUE COMPRENDE ESTIMULAR EL CRECIMIENTO MICROBIANO A TEMPERATURAS MESOFILICAS; PROCEDIMIENTO PARA TRATAR UN MINERAL PARTICULADO; PROCED

摘要

A microbial leaching process is carried out on a heap of particulate chalcopyrite ore by adding carbon dioxide to an air stream directed into the heap at least when the heap is at mesophilic temperatures, to stimulate growth, and to achieve a sufficiently high concentration, of mesophilic microbial strains in the heap so as to generate heat, at moderate thermophilic temperatures, at a rate which exceeds the rate of heat loss from the heap.