Biogeochemistry of acid mine drainage and a method to control acid formation

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Min. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6306683

Kleinmann, R L.P.; Crerar, D A; Pacelli, R R

A bacterium, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, is of prime importance in the formation of acid drainage from pyritic material. Above pH 4.5, T. ferrooxidans increases initial acidification; below pH 4.5, it allows acidification to continue by oxidizing Fe/sup 2 +/. Below a pH of approximately 2.5, the activity of Fe/sup 3 +/ is significant and results in steady-state cycling between oxidation of pyrite by Fe/sup 3 +/ and bacterial oxidation of Fe/sup 2 +/. Laboratory and field tests demonstrate that inhibition of T. ferrooxidans by controlled release of anionic detergents can inexpensively reduce pyrite oxidation and acid formation.

• OSTI ID: 6306683
• Journal Information: Min. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 33:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
OXIDATION
PYRITE
THIOBACILLUS FERROXIDANS
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
GEOCHEMISTRY
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALS
ORES
PYRITES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)