Bioreactor leaching using enriched culture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptosprillium ferrooxidans was investigated for the apatite rich Indian (Narwapahar) uranium ore. Bioreactor leaching of Narwapahar ore of <45 mu m size at pH 2.0 and 10% (w/v) PD using 10% (v/v) inoculum of the bacterium at 35 degrees C (A. ferrooxidans) and 40 degrees C (L ferrooxidans), solubilised 57% and 63% uranium in 5 days, respectively; the E-SCE values being 561 and 588 mV. Leaching kinetics improved so much so that similar to 83% uranium was recovered in just 10 h with 10% inoculum of A. ferrooxidans containing biogenic Fe3+; at 20% PD uranium recovery rose to 87%. Role of temperature (25-40 degrees C) was noticed with 90.3% uranium bioleaching in 10 h at 40 degrees C with L. ferrooxidans as against 77% leaching with A. ferrooxidans at pH 2.0, 40 degrees C and 20% (w/v) PD. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.