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Related Experiment Videos

A novel mineral flotation process using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

T Nagaoka1, N Ohmura, H Saiki

  • 1Department of Bio-Science, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 1646 Abiko, Abiko City, Chiba, Japan.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|July 31, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (T. ferrooxidans) selectively suppresses pyrite floatability through bacterial adhesion, enabling efficient pyrite removal during mineral processing. This novel bio-flotation method enhances separation of sulfide minerals.

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Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology and Mineral Processing
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Surface Chemistry

Background:

  • Oxidative leaching using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (T. ferrooxidans) is established in mineral processing.
  • Selective separation of sulfide minerals, particularly pyrite, remains a challenge in conventional flotation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the novel application of T. ferrooxidans for selective pyrite removal from mixed sulfide minerals using bio-flotation.
  • To determine the effect of bacterial adhesion on the floatability of pyrite and other sulfide minerals.

Main Methods:

  • Floatability tests were conducted on five sulfide minerals (pyrite, chalcocite, molybdenite, millerite, galena) with and without the addition of T. ferrooxidans.
  • Bacterial adhesion to mineral surfaces was quantified by normalizing cell numbers to the mineral surface area.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Selective removal efficiency of pyrite and recovery of non-pyrite minerals were assessed.

    • Main Results:

    • T. ferrooxidans significantly suppressed pyrite floatability to less than 20%, while floatability of other tested minerals remained high (81-98%).
    • Bacterial adhesion was significantly higher on pyrite surfaces compared to other minerals, correlating with floatability suppression.
    • 77-95% of pyrite was removed from mineral mixtures, with 72-100% recovery of non-pyrite sulfide minerals.

    Conclusions:

    • T. ferrooxidans selectively suppresses pyrite floatability via specific bacterial adhesion to pyrite surfaces.
    • Bio-flotation utilizing T. ferrooxidans offers a novel and effective method for separating pyrite from other sulfide minerals.
    • The biological function of cell adhesion is key to this innovative mineral processing technique.