Role of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and sulphur (sulphide)-dependent ferric-ion-reducing activity in the oxidation of sulphide minerals

Das, A and Mishra, AK (1996) Role of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and sulphur (sulphide)-dependent ferric-ion-reducing activity in the oxidation of sulphide minerals. In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 45 (3). pp. 377-382.

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Abstract

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans oxidized the sulphide minerals e.g., pyrite, pyrrhotite and copper concentrate under anaerobic conditions in the presence of ferric ion as sole electron acceptor. Copper and iron were solubilized from sulphide ores by the sulphur (sulphide)-dependent ferric-ion oxidoreductase activity. Treatment of resting cells of T. ferrooxidans with 0.5% phenol for 30 min completely destroyed the iron- and copper-solubilizing activity. The above treatment destroyed the sulphur(sulphide)-dependent ferric-ion-reducing activity completely but did not affect the iron-oxidizing activity. The results suggest that sulphur(sulphide)-dependent ferric-ion-reducing activity actively participates in the oxidation of sulphide minerals under anaerobic conditions. The activity of sulphur(sulphide)-dependent ferric ion reduction in the solubilization of iron and copper from the sulphide ores were also observed under aerobic conditions in presence of sodium azide (0.1 μmol), which completely inhibits the iron-oxidizing activity.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Publisher:	Springer
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Springer.
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Materials Engineering (formerly Metallurgy)
Date Deposited:	19 Jan 2010 07:59
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:51
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/24795

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