title: Green synthesis of covellite nanocrystals using biologically generated sulfide: potential for bioremediation systems.
abstract: This work describes the synthesis of CuS powders in high yield and via an environmentally friendly and straightforward process, under ambient conditions (temperature and pressure), by adding to aqueous copper (II) a nutrient solution containing biologically generated sulfide from sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The powders obtained were composed of CuS (covellite) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibiting a spheroid morphology (<5 nm). The relevance of this method to obtain CuS supported solid substrates has been demonstrated by performing the synthesis in the presence of TiO2 and SiO2 submicron particles. We further extended the work carried out, which substantiates the potential of using biogenic sulfide for the production of covellite nanocrystals and composites, using the effluent of a bioremediation column. Hence, such process results in the synthesis of added value products obtained from metal rich effluents, such as metallurgical and industrial ones, or Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), when associated with bioremediation processes.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Algarve, CCMar, Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Ana Violeta
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Girão
authors.forename: João P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Tito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: Maria Clara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045285:Desulfovibrio desulfuricans / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D003300:Copper; D014025:Titanium; C017846:cupric sulfide
keywords: Bioremediation; CuS; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Sulfate-reducing bacteria