Enhancement of Flotation Selectivity of Sphalerite Using Mineral-Stressed Paenibacillus polymyxa and Its Cellular Components

Subramanian, S and Ravishankar, H and Vasanthakumar, B (2016) Enhancement of Flotation Selectivity of Sphalerite Using Mineral-Stressed Paenibacillus polymyxa and Its Cellular Components. In: TRANSACTIONS OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF METALS, 69 (1). pp. 67-74.

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Abstract

The selective flotation of sphalerite from a sphalerite-galena mineral mixture was achieved using cellular components of Paenibacillus polymyxa after adaptation to the above minerals. The soluble and insoluble fractions of the thermolysed bacterial cells adapted to sphalerite yielded higher flotation recoveries of sphalerite with selectivity indices ranging between 22 and 29. The protein profile for the unadapted and mineral-stressed cells was found to differ distinctly, attesting to variation in the yield and nature of extra-cellular polymeric substances. The changes induced in the bacterial cell wall components after adaptation to sphalerite or galena with respect to the contents of phosphate, uronic acid and acetylated sugars of P. polymyxa were quantified. In keeping with these changes, a marginal morphological transition of P. polymyxa from rods to spheres was observed. The role of the dissolved metal ions from the minerals as well as that of the constituents of extracellular secretions in modulating the surface potential of the mineral-stressed cells were demonstrated. These studies highlighted that, mineral stress led to qualitative and quantitative changes in the cellular components, which facilitated the enhancement of flotation selectivity of sphalerite.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	TRANSACTIONS OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF METALS
Publisher:	SPRINGER INDIA
Additional Information:	Copy right for this article belongs to the SPRINGER INDIA, 7TH FLOOR, VIJAYA BUILDING, 17, BARAKHAMBA ROAD, NEW DELHI, 110 001, INDIA
Keywords:	Paenibacillus polymyxa; Mineral stress; Sphalerite; Galena; Bioflotation
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Materials Engineering (formerly Metallurgy)
Date Deposited:	17 Feb 2016 05:32
Last Modified:	17 Feb 2016 05:32
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/53244

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