Microbial ferrous iron oxidation in acidic solution
Microbial ferrous iron oxidation in a dilute sulfuric acid medium at low pH was investigated. Batch and continuous flow-through reactors were used to evaluate Thiobacillus ferrooxidans oxidation of Fe(II) in an acidic sulfate leach medium typical of that which may be formed from the reaction of ferric iron for dissolution of metal sulfide and uranium ores and to learn of similar reactions that may occur naturally as in the case of acid mine drainage. Results showed that pH values of 1.0 to 2.4 affected microbial oxidation rate very little. Microbial yield coefficients were experimentally determined and agreed with predictions from thermodynamic considerations. The maximum specific growth rate coefficient and the half-velocity coefficient represented experimental data. Oxidation occurred rapidly and the minimum sludge age value was about 0.4 day. Attached film processes may be the most appropriate systems for achieving microbial oxidation of ferrous iron.
- Research Organization:
- Keystone Environmental Resources, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7097047
- Journal Information:
- J. - Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States), Journal Name: J. - Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States) Vol. 60:5; ISSN JWPFA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DISSOLUTION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFATES
LEACHING
MICROORGANISMS
ORES
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA
SULFURIC ACID
THIOBACILLUS FERROXIDANS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS