Decrease in iron oxidizing activity of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans adsorbed on activated carbon.
It was observed that about 90% of free-swimming Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in 9 K medium was adsorbed on added activated carbon when the concentration of the cultivated bacteria reached about 4 x 10(13) cells m(-3). The oxidation of ferrous iron and the leaching of copper ore were carried out in shake flasks and in aerated columns. The rates of oxidation and leaching increased when bacteria adsorbed on activated carbon were used. However, the evaluation of the reaction rates by eliminating the catalytic effect of activated carbon showed that the contribution to the reaction by the adsorbed microorganism was very small.
Kai
T
T
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890, Japan.
Takahashi
T
T
Shirakawa
Y
Y
Kawabata
Y
Y