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Bidirectional effects of sulfur-oxidizer Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in uranium bioleaching systems with or without sulfur by mixed acidophilic bacteria

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Abstract

The various effects of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (A. thiooxidans) on uranium bioleaching by mixed acidophilic bacteria was explored in the presence of ferrous substrates with or without sulfur. The results showed that the sulfur-oxidizer A. thiooxidans in the mixed bacteria played a positive role on acid production, iron oxidative rate, uranium extraction and ore permeability in the ferrous substrate with sulfur, while it played an inhibiting role in the substrate without sulfur. It showed that the sulfur-oxidizer A. thiooxidans played bidirectional effects in the uranium bioleaching process in the presence of ferrous substrates with or without sulfur.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported and funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51804165) and the Foundation of Education Bureau of Hunan Province, China (No. 22B0438).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defence of Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Qian Li, Xiaobei Liu, Jinfang Ma, Jing Sun, Guangyue Li, Zhao Cui & Ting Li

  2. School of Resources & Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Qian Li, Xiaobei Liu, Jinfang Ma, Jing Sun, Guangyue Li, Zhao Cui & Ting Li

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  1. Qian Li
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  2. Xiaobei Liu
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Correspondence to Qian Li.

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Li, Q., Liu, X., Ma, J. et al. Bidirectional effects of sulfur-oxidizer Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in uranium bioleaching systems with or without sulfur by mixed acidophilic bacteria. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 1787–1794 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08841-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08841-4

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