Transformation of iron in pure culture process of extremely acidophilic microorganisms
(1. State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China;
2. School of Minerals Processing & Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China;
3. Key Laboratory of Biohydrometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China)
2. School of Minerals Processing & Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China;
3. Key Laboratory of Biohydrometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China)
Abstract: Jarosite and extracellular polymer substance generated during pure culture and bioleaching process have been widely accepted the main transformation of decreasing iron in the medium. In the present work, acidophilus bioleaching organisms Ferroplasma thermophilum, Leptospirillum ferriphilum and Acidithioobacillus ferrooxidans were cultured. It was found that they can live in low pH environment, and more than 10 particles in each cell intracellular nano-particles are synthesized in the cells. By analyzing the morphology and chemical composition of nano-particles, they were found to contain iron, and the three microorganisms belonged to high-yielding strains. The results show that the transformation of the decreasing iron ions is not only generating jarosite, but also taken into cells and synthesizing ferruginous nano-particles.
Key words: jarosite; extracellular polymer substance; bioleaching; ferruginous nano-particles