Within a culture classification other significant differences in
leaching efficiency were observed between samples preserved
using different methods (Table 2). The method used to preserve
the mesophilic culture showed a significant effect on leaching
(p < 0.05). Live maintained mesophilic cultures were able to leach
the chalcopyrite more efficiently than mesophilic cells that were
cryopreserved (p < 0.05) or liquid-dried (p < 0.1). No difference in
total copper leached was found between mesophilic cells that
were maintained as live culture compared to cells that were stored
at 4 C.