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Acidophilic Iron- and Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Drives Alkaline pH Neutralization and Mineral Weathering in Fe Ore Tailings
- Source :
- Environmental Science & Technology. 55:8020-8034
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- American Chemical Society (ACS), 2021.
-
Abstract
- The neutralization of strongly alkaline pH conditions and acceleration of mineral weathering in alkaline Fe ore tailings have been identified as key prerequisites for eco-engineering tailings-soil formation for sustainable mine site rehabilitation. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans has great potential in neutralizing alkaline pH and accelerating primary mineral weathering in the tailings but little information is available. This study aimed to investigate the colonization of A. ferrooxidans in alkaline Fe ore tailings and its role in elemental sulfur (S0) oxidation, tailings neutralization, and Fe-bearing mineral weathering through a microcosm experiment. The effects of biological S0 oxidation on the weathering of alkaline Fe ore tailings were examined via various microspectroscopic analyses. It is found that (1) the A. ferrooxidans inoculum combined with the S0 amendment rapidly neutralized the alkaline Fe ore tailings; (2) A. ferrooxidans activities induced Fe-bearing primary mineral (e.g., biotite) weathering and secondary mineral (e.g., ferrihydrite and jarosite) formation; and (3) the association between bacterial cells and tailings minerals were likely facilitated by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The behavior and biogeochemical functionality of A. ferrooxidans in the tailings provide a fundamental basis for developing microbial-based technologies toward eco-engineering soil formation in Fe ore tailings.
- Subjects :
- Mineral
Amendment
chemistry.chemical_element
Weathering
General Chemistry
010501 environmental sciences
engineering.material
01 natural sciences
Sulfur
Tailings
Ferrihydrite
Extracellular polymeric substance
chemistry
Environmental chemistry
Jarosite
engineering
Environmental Chemistry
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15205851 and 0013936X
- Volume :
- 55
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........a8a64e2bc2a2d36912c3f4babb97ad2f