Bioleaching of trace metals from coal ash using mixed culture of Acidithiobacillus albertensis and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

College

Gokongwei College of Engineering

Department/Unit

Chemical Engineering

Document Type

Article

Source Title

Journal of Engineering Science and Technology

Volume

10

Issue

Spec.issue8

First Page

36

Last Page

45

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

The bioleaching of zinc, manganese, chromium, iron and copper from coal ash (fly and bottom) from coal ash pond using mixed culture of Acidithiobacillus albertensis and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans was studied. Using the Box- Behnken experimental design, there are three variable parameters used namely: initial bacterial inoculum, % pulp density and weight of sulfur added. After fifteen days of bioleaching, the maximum percentage metals leached were 56.69% Zn, 70.68% Mn, 79.86% Cr, 70.74% Fe and 69.32% Cu at different variable parameters. Also, the solution has an initial pH value of 2 was decrease from a range of 1.39 to 0.61 due to the oxidation of sulfur via microbial activity. Based on the statistical analysis, the experimental data fit the quadratic model for all metal leached. Moreover, using numerical optimization the significant parameters are pulp density and initial mass of sulfur. Using the optimal parameters, the maximum percent metal leached were 56.38% Zn, 70.88% Mn, 85.01% Cr, 74.44% Fe and 74.46% Cu. © School of Engineering, Taylor’s University.

html

Disciplines

Chemical Engineering

Keywords

Bacterial leaching; Coal ash; Proteobacteria

Upload File

wf_no

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS