Bioleaching of sulfide containing material from the Wiśniówka Quarry: stability and adhesion of secondary products

Secondary products (minerals) formed during bioleaching play an essential role in this process. Their adhesion to the surface of leached grains can inhibit bioleaching. For this reason, it is crucial to know the physicochemical conditions of adhesion. Selected material from the Wiśniówka Quarry (Kielce, Poland) with increased content of sulfides was subjected to microbial leaching. A precipitate collected from a bacterial culture was used as a secondary product (mainly jarosite). Adhesion and bio-extraction tests were carried out in a column reactor with a mineral bed (particle size 0.8 - 1.2 mm). The cationic surfactant (CTAB), anionic surfactant (SDS), and rhamnolipids (RL) were used to modify the surface of minerals and secondary products. Changes in the surface properties were determined with zeta potential measurements. The cationic surfactant above the 0.5 mM caused stability of jarosite suspension. Also, bioleaching efficiency was the highest for mineral surfaces modified by CTAB. The quantitative interpretation of the adhesion of the secondary product to bioleach mineral material was carried out.

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Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MEiN, umowa nr SONP/SP/546092/2022 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2022-2023).