Bacteriological synthesis of iron hydroxysulfate using an isolated Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain and its application in ametryn degradation by Fenton's oxidation process

The investigation reports the application of biogenic jarosite, an iron hydroxy sulfate mineral in Fenton's Oxidation process. Ametryn, a herbicide detrimental to aquatic life and also to human is treated by Fenton's oxidation process using synthesized iron mineral, jarosite. The jarosite synthesis was carried out by using an isolated Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans bacterial strain with ferrous as an iron supplement. The isolated strain was characterized by molecular techniques and biooxidation activity to ferrous to ferric iron was checked. On Fenton's treatment ametryn degradation upto 84.9% and COD removal to the extent of 56.1% was observed within 2 h of treatment and the reaction follows the pseudo first order kinetics with the curve best fit. The slight increase in kinetic rate constant on jarosite loading rate increase from 0.1 g/L to 0.5 g/L with H₂O₂ dosage of 100 mg/L confirms that jarosite has a catalytic role in the removal of ametryn. Mass spectroscopy analysis of treated synthetic ametryn solution at various intervals reveal the degradation follows dealkylation and hydroxylation pathway with the formation of three major intermediate compounds discussed here.