Effect of oxygen limitation on solid-bed bioleaching of heavy metals from contaminated sediments

The effects of oxygen limitation on solid-bed bioleaching of heavy metals (Me) were studied in a laboratory percolator system using contaminated sediment supplemented with 2% elemental sulfur (So). Oxygen limitation was realized by controlling the gas flow and oxygen concentration in the aeration gas. The oxygen supply varied between 150 and 0.5 mol So (-1) over 28 d of leaching. Moderate oxygen limitation led to temporarily suppression of acidification, rate of sulfate generation and Me solubilization. Lowering the oxygen supply to 0.5 mol O2 mol So (-1) resulted in retarding acidification over a period of three weeks and in poor Me solubilization. Oxidation of So occurred even under strong oxygen limitation at a low rate. High surplus of oxygen was necessary for almost complete oxidation of the added So. The maximum Me solubilization was reached at an oxygen supply of 7.5 mol O2 mol So (-1). Thus, the oxygen input during solid-bed bioleaching can be reduced considerably by controlling the gas flow without loss of metal removal efficiency. Oxygen consumption rates, ranging from 0.4 x 10(-8) to 0.8 x 10(-8) Kg O2 Kg dm (-1) S(-1), are primarily attributed to high reactivity of the sulfur flower and high tolerance of indigenous autotrophic bacteria to low oxygen concentrations. The So related oxygen consumption was calculated assuming a molar yield coefficient Y O2/S of 1.21. The oxygen conversion degree, defined as part of oxygen feed consumed by So oxidation, increased from 0.7% to 68% when the oxygen supply was reduced from 150 to 0.5 mol O2 mol So (-1).