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Bioleaching of Zinc and Iron from Steel Plant Waste using Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans

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Abstract

The bacterial leaching of zinc and iron from solid wastes at the Isdemir iron and steel plant has been investigated using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans as the bacterial agent. The effects of a range of operational parameters, including particle size, solids concentration and pH, on the efficiency of the bioleaching process were investigated. In each test, several variables were determined to assess the efficiency of leaching, including slurry pH and redox potential, temperature, bacteria population and concentrations of zinc and iron in solution. Experimental results demonstrated that pulp solids concentration, slurry pH and solids particle size were all important parameters in the bacterial leaching process. Maximum extraction was achieved at pH values around 1.3 and a solids concentration of 1% w/v, with 35% of the Zn content and 37% of the Fe being dissolved.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support for this work was provided under project MMF2004-BAP7. The authors also wish to thank Isdemir AS for providing test samples and laboratory facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Cukurova University, Balcali, Adana, Turkey

    Oktay Bayat & Volkan Arslan

  2. Akdeniz Petrolleri AS, Adana, Turkey

    Efsun Sever

  3. Department of Environmental Engineering, Cukurova University, Balcali, Adana, Turkey

    Belgin Bayat

  4. School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Colin Poole

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  1. Oktay Bayat
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  2. Efsun Sever
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  3. Belgin Bayat
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  4. Volkan Arslan
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Correspondence to Oktay Bayat.

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Bayat, O., Sever, E., Bayat, B. et al. Bioleaching of Zinc and Iron from Steel Plant Waste using Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans . Appl Biochem Biotechnol 152, 117–126 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8257-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8257-5

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