Iron-sulfur oxidizing bacteria in coal refuse and reclaimed prime farmland

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Miner. Matters; (United States)

OSTI ID:6288239

Klubek, B; Hanna-Somers, N; Sawyer, C

Many acres in Illinois have been seriously disrupted by surface-mine wastes, and acid drainage via surface and groundwaters from overburden spoil banks has been a major source of perturbation to streams and vegetative and wildlife communities. The restoration of mined farmland may be hindered by the generation of acidity by the iron-sulfur bacteria. This generation is the result of chemical and microbiological activities. An assessment of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans needs to be made in Illinois soils. The iron comes from the waste pyrite being oxidized to produce H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. Then the iron can be regenerated and reoxidized by T. ferrooxidans. The seasonal variation of the thiobacilli has been analyzed. Data indicates that the thiobacilli population is very active and an inhibitor needs to be found, one which can help control biologically produced acidity and so enhance reclamation efforts in mine-disturbed lands. 1 table. (DP)

• Research Organization: Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale
• OSTI ID: 6288239
• Journal Information: Miner. Matters; (United States), Vol. 4:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COAL MINING
LAND RECLAMATION
THIOBACILLUS FERROXIDANS
USES
COAL
ILLINOIS
IRON
OXIDATION
SOILS
SULFURIC ACID
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION V
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MATERIALS
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
550700 - Microbiology
510500 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)