Sphalerite oxidation by Thiobacillus fertooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans

Abstract

Sphalerite (ZnS) oxidation was monitored in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans cultures and in abiotic controls by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of solid phases and by chemical analysis of solution composition. X-ray diffraction data revealed no solid-phase reaction products in unsupplemented sphalerite media, whereas minor amounts of S0 accumulated in FeSC4-amended sphalerite media with or without T. ferrooxidans inoculum. Jarosite ((K,Na,H3O,NH4)Fe3(SO4)2(OH)6) also precipitated in the amended T. ferrooxidans cultures. When sphalerite media inoculated with T. thiooxidans were amended with S0, acid production was enhanced, decreasing the pH to 1.1, but Zn dissolution was not accelerated. By comparison with T. thiooxidans, T. ferrooxidans was more efficient in the oxidation of sphalerite.Key words: bioleaching of sphalerite, sphalerite oxidation, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, zinc sulfide oxidation.