title: Effects of L-cysteine on Ni-Cu sulfide and marmatite bioleaching by Acidithiobacillus caldus.
abstract: The effect of L-cysteine in different concentrations on the bioleaching of Ni-Cu sulfide and marmatite were studied with a moderately thermophilic, sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, strain of Acidithiobacillus caldus. X-ray diffraction (XRD) observations showed the change of bioleached solid residues and the effect of L-cysteine on the surface charges of minerals. It was found that adding certain amounts of L-cysteine to the leaching system of Ni-Cu sulfide largely enhanced the leaching rate, while L-cysteine inhibited the bioleaching of marmatite by A. caldus. The mechanism of L-cysteine interaction with mineral surfaces was studied by means of zeta potential determination and IR spectra.
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory for Biometallurgy of Chinese Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Zhiguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Fengling
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Yuehua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D042763:Acidithiobacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008906:Mining / Q000379:methods*; D009532:Nickel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C508262:marmatite; C062136:nickel copper alloy; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D003545:Cysteine