Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Particle Size Effects in Bioleaching of Uranium From Saghand Ore by Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans (A.f.)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

A Rashidi
R Roosta Azad
S.J Safdari
Abstract
The effect of mineral particle size on the bioleaching of uranium from Saghand mine (anomaly 1&2) by acidophilic mesophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was investigated in a shake flask. The findings are indicating that this strain is suitable for the uranium recovery from the mentioned ore. In the range of our studies the uranium recovery is faster in the case of d80=108 micron from anomaly 1, while, a comminution level of d80=160 micron was obtained as an appropriate size for the anomaly 2. The results showed that the particle size distribution of the mineral in this range did not considerably influence the microbial activity. Also, based on the results of bacterial oxidation, the negative effects and toxicity due to the presence of solid and solute components do not put a limit on the microbial activity, and at the tested parameters range, the grown microbial population is performing the desired process excelently.

Highlights

  1. Abhilash, S. Singh, K.D. Mehta, V. Kumar, B.D. Pandey, V.M. Pandey, “Dissolution of uranium from silicate apatite ore by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,” Hydrometallurgy, 95: 70-75 (2009).

     

  2. A. Mishara, N. Pradhan, R.N. Kar, L.B. Sukla, B.K. Mishra, “Microbial recovery of uranium using native fungal strains,” Hydrometallurgy, 95: 175-177 (2009).

 

  1. J. Lee, S. Kim, K. Kim, I.S. Kim, “Microbial removal of uranium in uranium-bearing black shale,” Chemosphere, 59: 147-154 (2005).

 

  1. J.A. Munoz, F. Gonzalez, M.L. Blazquez, A. Ballester, “A study of the bioleaching of a Spanish uranium ore,” Hydrometallurry, 38: 39-97 (1995).

 

  1. O.G. Junior, “Bacterial Leaching of uranium ore from Figueira-PR (Brazil) at Laboratory and Pilot scale,” FEMS Microboilogy Review, 11: 237-242 (1993).

 

  1. E.R. Donati, W. Sand, (Eds.), “Microbial processing of metal sulfides,” Springer (2007).

 

  1. M.A. Blancarte-Zurita, R.M.R. Branion, R.W. Lawrence, “Particle size effects in the microbiological Leaching of sulfide concentrate by Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans,” Biotechnol Bioeng. 28: 751-755 (1986).

 

  1. G.S. Hansford, J.T. Chapman, “Batch and Continuous biooxidation Kinetics of a refractory gold-bearing pyrite concentrate,” Miner. Eng. 5: 597-612 (1992).

 

  1. M. Nemati, J. Lowenadler, S.T.L. Harrison, “Particle size effects in bioleaching of pyrite by acidophilic thermophile Sulfolobus metallicus,” Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 53: 173-179 (2000).

 

  1. H. Deveci, “Effect of particle size and shape of solids on the viability of acidophilic bacteria during mixing in stirred tank reactors,” Hydrometallurgy, 71: 385-396 (2004).

  2. R.S. Cherry, E.T. Papoutsakis, “Hydrodynamic effects on cells in agitated tissue culture reactors,” Bioprocess Enginnering. 1: 21- 41(1986).

 

  1. M.P. Doran, “Bioprocess Engineering Principles,” Academic Press, San Diego (1995).

 

  1. T. Saririchi, R. Roosta Azad, D. Arabian, A. Molaie, F. Nemati, “On the optimization of sphalerite bioleaching,” Chemical Engineering Journal, Article in Press (2010).

 

  1. R.M. Atlas, “Media for Environmental Microbiology,” Second ed., Taylor & Francis (2005).

 

  1. “Russian federation ministry of atomic energy,” Report of Processing technology developed for uranium ores from Saghand deposit Islamic Republic of Iran (1996).

 

  1. ASTM, “D4454-85 Standard Test Method for Simultaneous Enumeration of Total and Respiring Bacteria in Aquatic Systems by Microscopy,” Annual Book of ASTM Standards, American Society for Testing and Materials, Vol. 11.02 (2009).

 

  1. L. Larsson, G. Olsson, O. Holst, H. Karlsson, “Oxidation of pyrite by Acidianus brierleyi: importance of close contact between the pyrite and the microorganism,” Biotechnol. Lett. 15: 99-104 (1993).

 

  1. C.J. Han, R.M. Kelly, “Biooxidation capacity of the extremely thermophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula under bioenergetic challenge,” Biotechnol. Bioeng. 58: 617-624 (1998).

 

  1. B. Morgan, O. Lahav, “The effect of pH on the kinetics of spontaneous Fe(II) oxidation by O2 in aqueous solution–basic principles and a simple heuristic description,” Chemosphere. 68: 2080–2084 (2007).

     

Keywords

Bioleaching
Particles Size
Uranium
Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans

  1. Abhilash, S. Singh, K.D. Mehta, V. Kumar, B.D. Pandey, V.M. Pandey, “Dissolution of uranium from silicate apatite ore by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,” Hydrometallurgy, 95: 70-75 (2009).

     

  2. A. Mishara, N. Pradhan, R.N. Kar, L.B. Sukla, B.K. Mishra, “Microbial recovery of uranium using native fungal strains,” Hydrometallurgy, 95: 175-177 (2009).

 

  1. J. Lee, S. Kim, K. Kim, I.S. Kim, “Microbial removal of uranium in uranium-bearing black shale,” Chemosphere, 59: 147-154 (2005).

 

  1. J.A. Munoz, F. Gonzalez, M.L. Blazquez, A. Ballester, “A study of the bioleaching of a Spanish uranium ore,” Hydrometallurry, 38: 39-97 (1995).

 

  1. O.G. Junior, “Bacterial Leaching of uranium ore from Figueira-PR (Brazil) at Laboratory and Pilot scale,” FEMS Microboilogy Review, 11: 237-242 (1993).

 

  1. E.R. Donati, W. Sand, (Eds.), “Microbial processing of metal sulfides,” Springer (2007).

 

  1. M.A. Blancarte-Zurita, R.M.R. Branion, R.W. Lawrence, “Particle size effects in the microbiological Leaching of sulfide concentrate by Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans,” Biotechnol Bioeng. 28: 751-755 (1986).

 

  1. G.S. Hansford, J.T. Chapman, “Batch and Continuous biooxidation Kinetics of a refractory gold-bearing pyrite concentrate,” Miner. Eng. 5: 597-612 (1992).

 

  1. M. Nemati, J. Lowenadler, S.T.L. Harrison, “Particle size effects in bioleaching of pyrite by acidophilic thermophile Sulfolobus metallicus,” Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 53: 173-179 (2000).

 

  1. H. Deveci, “Effect of particle size and shape of solids on the viability of acidophilic bacteria during mixing in stirred tank reactors,” Hydrometallurgy, 71: 385-396 (2004).

  2. R.S. Cherry, E.T. Papoutsakis, “Hydrodynamic effects on cells in agitated tissue culture reactors,” Bioprocess Enginnering. 1: 21- 41(1986).

 

  1. M.P. Doran, “Bioprocess Engineering Principles,” Academic Press, San Diego (1995).

 

  1. T. Saririchi, R. Roosta Azad, D. Arabian, A. Molaie, F. Nemati, “On the optimization of sphalerite bioleaching,” Chemical Engineering Journal, Article in Press (2010).

 

  1. R.M. Atlas, “Media for Environmental Microbiology,” Second ed., Taylor & Francis (2005).

 

  1. “Russian federation ministry of atomic energy,” Report of Processing technology developed for uranium ores from Saghand deposit Islamic Republic of Iran (1996).

 

  1. ASTM, “D4454-85 Standard Test Method for Simultaneous Enumeration of Total and Respiring Bacteria in Aquatic Systems by Microscopy,” Annual Book of ASTM Standards, American Society for Testing and Materials, Vol. 11.02 (2009).

 

  1. L. Larsson, G. Olsson, O. Holst, H. Karlsson, “Oxidation of pyrite by Acidianus brierleyi: importance of close contact between the pyrite and the microorganism,” Biotechnol. Lett. 15: 99-104 (1993).

 

  1. C.J. Han, R.M. Kelly, “Biooxidation capacity of the extremely thermophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula under bioenergetic challenge,” Biotechnol. Bioeng. 58: 617-624 (1998).

 

  1. B. Morgan, O. Lahav, “The effect of pH on the kinetics of spontaneous Fe(II) oxidation by O2 in aqueous solution–basic principles and a simple heuristic description,” Chemosphere. 68: 2080–2084 (2007).

     

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