An investigation of the kinetics of thermophilic microbial ferrous iron oxidation in continuous culture

The potential of thermophilic micro-organisms to bioleach primary copper sulfides and other minerals has led to the need to develop a fundamental understanding of the mechanistic process involved. Ferrous iron oxidation has been established as a key step in bioleaching and is understood to be achieved largely by microbial action. The objective of this work was to determine an appropriate set of kinetic expressions that describe the rates of microbial growth and ferrous iron oxidation of a thermophilic archeal culture grown in continuous culture on ferrous iron between 60 and 80°C.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Searby, Giles Edward

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hansford, Geoffrey Spearing

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5406

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/5406