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The effect of carbon dioxide and particle surface area on the microbiological leaching of a zinc sulfide concentrate
Author(s) -
Torma A. E.,
Walden C. C.,
Duncan D. W.,
Branion R. M. R.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260140507
Subject(s) - carbon dioxide , zinc , aeration , leaching (pedology) , chemistry , sulfide , environmental chemistry , inorganic chemistry , environmental science , organic chemistry , soil water , soil science
The effects of carbon dioxide‐enriched air on the rate of zinc extraction during the microbiological leaching of a, high‐grade zinc sulfide concentrate by Thiobacillns ferrooxidans have been studied. Under normal air‐aeration conditions, the leach rate is limited initially by the availability of solid substrate surface area per unit volume of leach liquor, then by availability of carbon dioxide. If carbon dioxide‐enriched air is supplied, along with excess substrate, the zinc extraction rate increases as the carbon dioxide content increases until some other, as yet unknown, factor becomes limiting.