Biosolubilization of K-silicates in pelitic rock by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

• Ano de defesa: 2017
• Autor(a) principal: Matias, Patrícia Cardoso
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de Viçosa
• Palavras-chave em Português: Minerais; Rochas; Solubilização; Potássio; Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans; Ciência do Solo
• Link de acesso: http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/11553

Bacteria that oxidize reduced forms of S are used in industry to leach metals, such as gold and copper. The generation of acidity, from the oxidative dissolution of S, is the main mechanism by which it is possible to solubilize minerals using the bacterium Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. In this study, the solubilization of a potassium silicate rock, regionally known as Verdete rock (VR), was evaluated by means of a biological assay using A. thiooxidans. Erlenmeyer flasks containing 9 K medium, bacterial culture and VR were incubated at 30 °C at times ranging from 0 to 49 d. After the incubation times, the filtrate and solid phase were collected. The solid phases were subjected to X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis for mineralogical characterization. In the filtered, pH, redox potential and soluble contents of some elements (K, Al, Fe, Si and S) were measured. In the presence of A. thiooxidans the estimated initial pH of 4.2 was reduced to 0.57 at 49 d after incubation (dai). Under acidic conditions, with the presence of the bacterium, there was partial solubilization of the VR, evidenced by a significant increase in the concentrations of the structural elements of rock minerals. The released amounts of K, Al, Fe and Si, at 49 d, in the culture medium corresponded to 6.6, 5.8, 14.1 and 1.7 % of their total contents in VR. Mineralogical analysis showed similar changes in DRX spectra for VR samples in absence and presence of A. thiooxidans at 49 dai. In addition, the study confirmed that the solubilization of VR, as indicated by leaching of rock elements (K, Al, Fe and Si), is due to the acidification of the medium promoted by the biological catalysis of A. thiooxidans in the oxidation of S 0 , and suggests the potential use of this bacterium to solubilize silicate rocks rich in K, or other metals of interest, since it is a technology of low energy consumption compared to conventional processes. Further studies should be carried out into optimize the biosolubilization of K-silicate minerals, including the using of more sophisticated bioreactors, processes for recovering soluble elements and microbial associations.