Bioleaching of Sarcheshmeh molybdenite concentrate for extraction of rhenium

Bioleaching of Sarcheshmeh (Iran) molybdenite concentrate using a native strain of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans for extraction of rhenium was evaluated. Bioleaching tests showed that rhenium was extracted from the molybdenite concentrate, but rhenium extraction was low. Maximum rhenium extraction was 7.3%, while molybdenum extraction was 0.54%. The native strain of the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans had been able to grow on media that contain up to 250 mg/L molybdenum by the addition of pyrite as an energy source, approximately three times more molybdenum than those that had been reported for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.