Abstract
Lateritic nickel ore from the Sukinda Mines, Orissa, India, was leached using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus licheniformis and Aspergillus niger at 5% (w/v) solid: liquid ratio for 5–20 days. Maximum leaching of Ni was achieved with B. circulans (85%) and Aspergillus niger (92%) after 20 days. Bacillus circulans showed significantly higher rate of leaching than the other organisms giving 80% Ni extraction after 15 days. The importance and usefulness of heterotrophic organisms in metal extraction are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bosecker, K. 1986 Leaching of lateritic nickel ore with heterotrophic microorganisms. In Fundamental and Applied Biohydrometallurgy, eds Lawrence, R.W., Branion, R.M.R. & Abner, H.G. pp. 367–382. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Chander, S. 1982 Atmospheric pressure leaching of nickeliferous laterites in acidic media. Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals 35, 366–371.
Dacey, P., Wakerle, D. & LeRoux, N. 1981 The biodegradation of rocks and minerals with particular reference to silicate minerals: A literature survey. Report No. 380 (Mineral Engineering). Warren Spring, Stevenage, UK: Warren Springs Laboratory.
Kaltwasser, H. & Frings, W. 1980 Transport and metabolism of nickel in microorganisms. In Nickel in the Environment, ed Nriagu, J.O. pp. 463–491. New York: John Wiley.
Karavaiko, G.I., Kuznetsov, S.I. & Golonizik, A.I. 1977 The Bacterial Leaching of Metals from Ores. Stonehouse, UK: Technology Ltd.
Rossi, G. 1979 Potassium recovery through leucite bioleaching, possibilities and limitations. In Metallurgical Applications of Bacterial Leaching and Related Microbiological Phenomena, eds Murr, L., Torma, A. & Brierley, J. pp. 297–318. New York: Academic Press.
Silverman, M.P. & Lundgren, D.G. 1959 Studies on the chemoautotrophic iron bacterium Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans. I. An improved medium and a harvesting procedure for securing high cell yields. Journal of Bacteriology 77, 642–647.
Sukla, L.B. & Panchanadikar, V.V. 1992 Bioleaching of lateritic nickel ore using a heterotrophic microorganism. Hydrometallurgy 32. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sukla, L.B., Panchanadikar, V.V. & Kar, R.N. Microbial leaching of lateritic nickel ore. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 9, 255–257 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327850
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327850