title: Bioleaching mechanism of Zn, Pb, In, Ag, Cd and As from Pb/Zn smelting slag by autotrophic bacteria.
abstract: A few studies have focused on release of valuable/toxic metals from Pb/Zn smelting slag by heterotrophic bioleaching using expensive yeast extract as an energy source. The high leaching cost greatly limits the practical potential of the method. In this work, autotrophic bioleaching using cheap sulfur or/and pyrite as energy matter was firstly applied to tackle the smelting slag and the bioleaching mechanisms were explained. The results indicated autotrophic bioleaching can solubilize valuable/toxic metals from slag, yielding maximum extraction efficiencies of 90% for Zn, 86% for Cd and 71% for In, although the extraction efficiencies of Pb, As and Ag were poor. The bioleaching performance of Zn, Cd and Pb was independent of leaching system, and leaching mechanism was acid dissolution. A maximum efficiency of 25% for As was achieved by acid dissolution in sulfursulfur oxidizing bacteria (S-SOB), but the formation of FeAsO4 reduced extraction efficiency in mixed energy source - mixed culture (MS-MC). Combined works of acid dissolution and Fe(3+) oxidation in MS-MC was responsible for the highest extraction efficiency of 71% for In. Ag was present in the slag as refractory AgPb4(AsO4)3 and AgFe2S3, so extraction did not occur.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, PR China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Environment Engineering Technology Research Institute, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China.
authors.forename: Qifei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, PR China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, PR China. Electronic address: xinbaoping@bit.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Baoping
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, PR China.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, PR China.
authors.forename: Xingming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, PR China.
authors.forename: Changhao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D052818:Autotrophic Processes; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008669:Metallurgy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012995:Solubility; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D013440:Sulfides; C011342:pyrite; D013455:Sulfur; D007501:Iron; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Bioleaching; Pb/Zn smelting slag; Recovery; Toxic metals; Valuable metals