Anaerobic microbial dissolution of lead and production of organic acids

Patent · Fri Feb 28 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6713847

Francis, A J; Dodge, C; Chendrayan, K

The present invention relates to a method of solubilizing lead, in the form of lead oxide, found in industrial wastes, before these wastes are dumped into the environment. The lead is solubilized by dissolving the lead oxide in the wastes through contact with an anaerobic bacterial culture containing the bacterium ATCC No. 53464. The solubilized lead can then be removed from the wastes by chemical separation. It could also be removed by extending the contact period with the bacterial culture. As the culture grows, the solubilized lead is removed from the wastes by bioaccumulation by the microorganism or by immobilization by a polymer-like material produced by the microorganism. At this point, the lead is then removed from the wastes when the waste material is separated from the bacterial culture. If desired, the bacterial culture could be digested at this point to yield relatively pure lead for further industrial use.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): None
• Application Number: ON: DE87007301
• OSTI ID: 6713847
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACIDIFICATION
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEAD
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PRODUCTION
SURFACE WATERS
WATER