Fractionation behavior of heavy metals in soil during bioleaching with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

The effects of bioleaching on the fractionation of soil heavy metals were investigated in this study. Bioleaching of heavy metals from contaminated soil was carried out in shake flask experiments. Acidophilic sulfur oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans isolated from soil was used for bioleaching. Bioleaching resulted in removal of heavy metals at higher levels. Variations in the binding forms of heavy metals before, during and after bioleaching were evaluated. It was noticed that bioleaching affected the binding forms of all the heavy metals present in the soil. The major contaminant chromium bound mainly to the fractions of soil which are not very reactive (organic and residual fractions) also showed good removal efficiency. Bioleaching influenced the fractionation of metals in soil after treatment and most of the remnant heavy metals were bound either to residual fraction or to other not easily mobile fractions of soil. The results of this study indicated that the bioleaching process can be useful for efficient removal of heavy metals from soil. Further, the soil with remnant metals can be disposed off safely.