Different strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans were used to catalyze the oxidative dissolution of iron pyrite, FeS(2), in nine different coal samples. Kinetic variables and parametric factors that were determined to have a pronounced effect on the rate and extent of oxidative dissolution at a fixed Po(2) were: the bacterial strain, the nitrogen/phosphorus molar rati...

Ammonium was shown to be a limiting nutrient for iron oxidation in cultures of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. In addition, one strain was also able to assimilate nitrate, but not nitrite, for growth and coupled iron oxidation. Some amino acids (0.5 mM) were tested as a source of nitrogen; none clearly stimulated bacterial activity and inhibition was commonly encountered. Complex nitrogenous compoun...

The immobilization of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cells on ceramic beads as carrier is described. The effects of ferrous ion concentration and dilution on the kinetics of ferrous ion oxidation in a packed-bed bioreactor were studied. In a medium containing 13.91 g of ferrous ion per litre, the fastest oxidation rate was 4.21 g L–1 at a dilution rate of 0.8 h–1. The corresponding conversion w...