Anaerobic microbial dissolution of toxic metals from energy residues

Conference · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6216200

Francis, A J; Dodge, C J

Microbial dissolution of toxic metals from coal beneficiation residues was studied under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Aerobically, native autotrophic bacteria solubilized varying amounts of As, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Dissolution of the above metals was increased by severalfold when inorganic nutrients N and P were supplemented. Under anaerobic conditions native anaerobic bacteria solubilized significant amounts of Fe, Cr, and Mn when amended with carbon and nitrogen. Selective chemical extraction analyses of coal residues indicate the association of most trace metals with pyrite, Fe-oxide, and a soluble phase, possibly ferric sulfate. These results indicate that the predominant mechanism of microbial dissolution of metals from coal residues under aerobic conditions is direct bacterial oxidation of pyrite and acid production; under anaerobic conditions are due to direct bacterial reduction of iron and manganses oxides and release of trace metals coprecipitated with the oxides.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6216200
• Report Number(s): BNL-39995; CONF-870937-4; ON: DE87013304
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010300* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Preparation-- (1987-)
010600 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
ARSENIC
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMIUM
COAL PREPARATION PLANTS
COPPER
DECOMPOSITION
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EXTRACTION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
IRON
LEAD
MANGANESE
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MINERAL WASTES
NICKEL
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
PHOSPHORUS
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLID WASTES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES
ZINC