[Participation of sulfate reducing bacteria in copper precipitation]

Chemical precipitation of copper by hydrogen sulphide at three values of pH (3.0; 5.0; 7.0) did not result in complete elimination of the metal from a solution. If sulphate reducing bacteria and a source of organic substance, for instance, disintegrated reed, are introduced into the medium, the microorganisms begin to grow, the redox potential decreases, hydrogen sulphide is formed, and copper is completely eliminated from a solution within 10--15 days in model experiments.