Modelling microbial transport in simulated low-grade heap bioleaching systems: The hydrodynamic dispersion model

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.The hydrodynamic model was developed to describe microbial growth kinetics within heap bioleaching systems. Microbial partitioning between the bulk flowing pregnant leach solution (PLS) and ore-associated phases that exist within the low-grade chalcopyrite ore bed, as a function of microbial transport between these identified phases, was investigated. Microbial transport between the bulk flowing PLS and ore-associated phases was postulated to be driven by the microbial concentration gradient between the phases, with advection and dispersion forces facilitating microbial colonisation of, and transport through, the ore bed. The population balance model (PBM) was incorporated into the hydrodynamic model to estimate mineral dissolution rates as a function of available surface area appropriately. Temporal and spatial variations in microbial concentration in the PLS and ore-associated phases are presented together with model predictions for overall ferrous and ferric iron concentrations, which account for iron concentrations in the bulk flowing PLS and that in the vicinity of the mineral surface. The model predictions for PLS and ore-associated microbial concentrations are validated with experimental data, demonstrating the improvement of this model over the previously presented ‘biomass model’. Based on Michaelis-Menten type kinetics, model-predicted true maximum specific growth rates for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in the PLS and ore-associated phases were found to be 0.0004 and 0.019 h −1 , respectively. Estimated microbial attachment and detachment rates suggest that microbial growth is more prolific in the ore-associated phases with subsequent transport to the bulk flowing PLS. Sensitivity analysis of the hydrodynamic transport model to changes in the advection mass transfer coefficient, dispersion coefficient and inoculum size are discussed. For the current reactor configuration, increasing the irrigation rate from 2 to 2.5 L m −2  h −1 , i.e. increasing the advection mass transfer rate, resulted in a significant decrease in microbial retention within the ore bed.The financial assistance of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, through the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI UID64778) is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived, are those of the author and are not necessarily to be attributed to the NRF

Spatial variations in leaching of a low-grade, low-porosity chalcopyrite ore identified using X-ray μCT

© 2017 Elsevier LtdThis study presents an investigation, using 3D X-ray micro computed tomography (μCT), into the effect of sulfide mineral position within an ore particle on leaching efficiency. Three sections of an unsaturated mini-leaching column that had been packed with agglomerated low-grade, low-porosity chalcopyrite ore and leached with an acidified ferric iron solution were imaged at different stages of a 102 day experiment. Image analysis was used to quantify changes in the mineral content and the influence on this of the mineral distance from the ore particle surface, local voidage and radial position within the column. The main factor affecting the mineral recovery was identified to be proximity of the mineral to the ore particle surface, with recovery decreasing with increasing distance from the ore surface. A maximum leaching penetration was observed to exist at 2 mm from the surface, beyond which no recovery was achieved. Higher recoveries at the column wall indicated that preferential flow in this higher voidage had an additional, albeit smaller, impact on leaching efficiency

Comparative study of fungal cell disruption—scope and limitations of the methods

Simple and effective protocols of cell wall disruption were elaborated for tested fungal strains: Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhodotorula gracilis. Several techniques of cell wall disintegration were studied, including ultrasound disintegration, homogenization in bead mill, application of chemicals of various types, and osmotic shock. The release of proteins from fungal cells and the activity of a cytosolic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, in the crude extracts were assayed to determine and compare the efficacy of each method. The presented studies allowed adjusting the particular method to a particular strain. The mechanical methods of disintegration appeared to be the most effective for the disintegration of yeast, R. gracilis, and filamentous fungi, A. fumigatus and P. citrinum. Ultrasonication and bead milling led to obtaining fungal cell-free extracts containing high concentrations of soluble proteins and active glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase systems

Influence of Alkane on the Mass Transfer Coefficient and Oxygen Transfer Rate in Bioprocesses.

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Comparison of the location of Glucose Oxidase in <I>Penicillium Canescens </I>tT42 and <I>Aspergillus Niger</I> NRRL-3 Cultures.

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The Influence of Gas-Liquid Interfacial area on the Oxygen Transfer Coefficient in Alkane-Aqueous Suspensions.

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Analysis of microbial communities associated with bioremediation systems for thiocyanate-laden mine water effluents

During the processing of refractory gold ores, cyanide (CN-) and residual sulphur species react to form an effluent stream containing thiocyanate (SCN-) and residual CN-. The release of SCN- and CN- containing effluent water to the environment is prohibited, necessitating effective treatment prior to discharge and/or reuse of contaminated plant water. Biologically mediated effluent remediation processes have been developed for commercial use, to remediate SCN-containing effluents, with the aim of enabling recycling of process water and improving the quality of effluent water prior to disposal. Bioremediation processes to treat these effluents rely on a complex consortium of microorganisms to metabolise the SCN- resulting in the production of ammonium that is in turn removed by conversion to nitrite and subsequent denitrification. Increasingly, genomic methods are being used to investigate processes in wastewater treatment to identify key microbial species and, thereby, inform the rationale design and operation of these bioremediation systems. The microbial ecology of laboratory-based SCN- degrading bioprocesses have been investigated, using genome resolved metagenomics, to provide detailed information on the community composition and metabolic profile of abundant microbial community members. Three Thiobacillus strains and an Afipia strain capable of SCN- degradation were shown to be highly abundant within a reactor system enabling biofilm formation. In contrast the inclusion of suspended mineral tailings within an alternative reactor system, led to the selection of an active planktonic microbial community with reduced microbial diversity containing only a single SCN-degrading Thiobacillus sp. This information is being used to inform further rational development of SCN- degradation processes for treatment of contaminated industrial wastewater effluents

Genome-resolved metagenomics of a bioremediation system for degradation of thiocyanate in mine water containing suspended solid tailings

Thiocyanate (SCN- ) is a toxic compound that forms when cyanide (CN- ), used to recover gold, reacts with sulfur species. SCN- -degrading microbial communities have been studied, using bioreactors fed synthetic wastewater. The inclusion of suspended solids in the form of mineral tailings, during the development of the acclimatized microbial consortium, led to the selection of an active planktonic microbial community. Preliminary analysis of the community composition revealed reduced microbial diversity relative to the laboratory-based reactors operated without suspended solids. Despite minor upsets during the acclimation period, the SCN- degradation performance was largely unchanged under stable operating conditions. Here, we characterized the microbial community in the SCN- degrading bioreactor that included solid particulate tailings and determined how it differed from the biofilm-based communities in solids-free reactor systems inoculated from the same source. Genome-based analysis revealed that the presence of solids decreased microbial diversity, selected for different strains, suppressed growth of thiobacilli inferred to be primarily responsible for SCN- degradation, and promoted growth of Trupera, an organism not detected in the reactors without solids. In the solids reactor community, heterotrophy and aerobic respiration represent the dominant metabolisms. Many organisms have genes for denitrification and sulfur oxidation, but only one Thiobacillus sp. in the solids reactor has SCN- degradation genes. The presence of the solids prevented floc and biofilm formation, leading to the observed reduced microbial diversity. Collectively the presence of the solids and lack of biofilm community may result in a process with reduced resilience to process perturbations, including fluctuations in the influent composition and pH. The results from this investigation have provided novel insights into the community composition of this industrially relevant community, giving potential for improved process control and operation through ongoing process monitoring