Effects of elevated pressures on the activity of acidophilic bioleaching microorganisms
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 107286 |
| Journal | Biochemical Engineering Journal |
| Volume | 150 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Oct 2019 |
| Publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Abstract
This study reports effects of elevated pressures on the oxidation of a soluble ferrous iron and low-grade sulphidic ore as little is known about biological iron and sulphur oxidation under these conditions. Pressure effects were studied in a pressurised batch-operated stirred tank reactor using acidophilic enrichment cultures. The oxidation of soluble Fe2+ by enrichment culture dominated by Leptospirillum ferriphilum, Sulfobacillus sp. and Ferrimicrobium acidiphilum increased with increasing pressure induced by technical air to up to +3 bar (0.63 bar PO2) and was inhibited at +7 bar (1.47 bar PO2). Elevated pressures induced by nitrogen (low oxygen partial pressure) were tolerated up to +40 bar. Another enrichment culture dominated by Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans, Sulfobacillus sp. and F. acidiphilum partially oxidised the ore at pressures up to +20 bar induced with air (4.2 bar PO2). This is the first study reporting activity of acidophiles under pressurised conditions in a stirred tank reactor.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Acidophiles, Biooxidation, Iron oxidation, Pressure tolerance, Pressurised stirred tank reactor