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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1994 September; 60(9): 3268-3274
Copyright © 1994, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Oxidative Dissolution of Arsenopyrite by Mesophilic and Moderately Thermophilic Acidophiles

Olli H. Tuovinen^1,*, Tariq M. Bhatti^1,, Jerry M. Bigham², Kevin B. Hallberg³, Oswaldo Garcia Jr.^1, and E. Börje Lindström^3,¶

¹ Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
² Department of Agronomy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
³ Department of Applied Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Umeå, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this work was to determine solution- and solid-phase changes associated with the oxidative leaching of arsenopyrite (FeAsS) by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and a moderately thermoacidophilic mixed culture. Jarosite [KFe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆], elemental sulfur (S⁰), and amorphous ferric arsenate were detected by X-ray diffraction as solid-phase products. The oxidation was not a strongly acid-producing reaction and was accompanied by a relatively low redox level. The X-ray diffraction lines of jarosite increased considerably when ferrous sulfate was used as an additional substrate for T. ferroxidans. A moderately thermoacidophilic mixed culture oxidized arsenopyrite faster at 45°C than did T. ferroxidans at 22°C, and the oxidation was accompanied by a nearly stoichiometric release of Fe and As. The redox potential was initially low but subsequently increased during arsenopyrite oxidation by the thermoacidophiles. Jarosite, S⁰, and amorphous ferric arsenate were also formed under these conditions.

^* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210-1292. Phone: (614) 292-3379. Fax: (614) 292-8120. Electronic mail address: otuovine@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu.

Present address: National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Present address: Departamento de Bioquimica, Instituto de Quimica, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara-SP-CEP.14.800, Brazil.

^¶ Present address: Department of Microbiology, University of Umeå, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.

Article 75-94 of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University.

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