Abstract
The role of the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria Thiobacillus thiooxidans in pyrite weathering was investigated to clarify the effects of the bacteria on the dissolution behavior of pyrite and the formation of secondary minerals using Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) in addition to solution analysis. It was found that T thiooxidans, when present with the iron-oxidizing bacteria Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, enhanced the dissolution of Fe and S species from pyrite, whereas T. thiooxidans alone did not oxidize pyrite. Enhancement of the consumption of elemental sulfur and regeneration of Fe(II) ions were also observed with T. thiooxidans together with T. ferrrooxidans, while this did not occur with T. ferrooxidans alone. It may be assumed that the contribution of T. thiooxidans to the formation of acid mine drainage on a geochemical scale should not be overlooked, though pyrite weathering is predominantly caused by iron-oxidizing activity in T. ferrooxidans.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 269-278 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects |
| Volume | 133 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 28 1998 |
| Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry