Corrosion and electrochemical oxidation of a pyrite by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Journal Article · Tue Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:7044733

Mustin, C; Berthelin, J ^[1]; Marion, P; Donato, P de ^[2]

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1. Univ. de Nancy I, Notre-Dame-des-Pauvres (France)
2. Environnement et Mineralurgie, Vandaeuvre-les-Nancy (France)

The oxidation of a pure pyrite by Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans is not really a constant phenomenon; it must be considered to be more like a succession of different steps which need characterization. Electrochemical studies using a combination of a platinum electrode and a specific pyrite electrode (packed-ground-pyrite electrode) revealed four steps in the bioleaching process. Each step can be identified by the electrochemical behavior (redox potentials) of pyrite, which in turn can be related to chemical (leachate content), bacterial (growth), and physical (corrosion patterns) parameters of the leaching process. A comparison of the oxidation rates of iron and sulfur indicated the nonstoichiometric bacterial oxidation of a pure pyrite in which superficial phenomena, aqueous oxidation, and deep crystal dissolution are successively involved.

• OSTI ID: 7044733
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States) Vol. 58:4; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DISSOLUTION
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
IRON
LEACHING
METABOLISM
METALS
MICROBIAL LEACHING
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
PYRITE
REDOX POTENTIAL
REDOX REACTIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFUR
SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA
THIOBACILLUS FERROXIDANS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS