The effects of fluoride and aluminum ions on ferrous-iron oxidation and copper sulfide bioleaching with Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans.

Microorganisms that grow at high temperatures can improve Fe(II) bio-oxidation and thereby its technological applications, such as bioleaching and H2S removal. Conversely, elements present in industrial growth media, such as fluoride, can inhibit bacterial growth and iron bio-oxidation. In this work...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Veloso, Tácia Costa, Sicupira, Lazaro Chaves, Rodrigues, Isabel Cristina Braga, Silva, Larissa A. M., Leão, Versiane Albis
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UFOP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.ufop.br:123456789/5437
Acceso en línea:http://www.repositorio.ufop.br/handle/123456789/5437
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2012.01.003
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Batch processing
Thermophiles
Growth kinetics
Fluoride toxicity
Aluminum complexes
Descripción
Sumario:Microorganisms that grow at high temperatures can improve Fe(II) bio-oxidation and thereby its technological applications, such as bioleaching and H2S removal. Conversely, elements present in industrial growth media, such as fluoride, can inhibit bacterial growth and iron bio-oxidation. In this work, the influence of fluoride on the kinetics of ferrous-iron bio-oxidation with Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans was investigated. The effects of fluoride concentrations (0–0.5 mmol L−1) on both iron oxidation and bacterial growth rates were assessed. In addition, the effect of the addition of aluminum, which was intended to complex free fluoride and reduce the concentration of HF through the formation of aluminum–fluoride complexes, was also investigated. The results show that 0.5 mmol L−1 NaF completely inhibited bacterial growth within 60 h. Nevertheless, fluoride toxicity to S. thermosulfidooxidans was minimized by control of the aluminum–fluoride ratio in the system because, at a 2:1 aluminum–fluoride molar ratio, bacterial growth was similar to that observed in the absence of fluoride ions. Despite a slower bacterial growth rate, fluoride concentrations less than the inhibitory concentration increased the Fe(II) oxidation rate. Successful copper bioleaching (80–100%) from fluoride-containing sulfide ores (1% total fluoride) was demonstrated in the presence of aluminum.