Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Investigation of microbial metal-sulfide interfacial environments under mineral bioleach simulated conditions
This research pertains to bioleaching of copper containing ores with particular reference to the copper sulfide mineral chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). While it is focused on heap bioleaching, it has applications to stirred tank bioleaching operations. In the context of bioleaching, microbial extra-cellular...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613286448496640 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Africa, Cindy-Jade |
| author2 | Harrison, Susan T L |
| author_browse | Africa, Cindy-Jade Harrison, Susan T L |
| author_facet | Harrison, Susan T L Africa, Cindy-Jade |
| author_sort | Africa, Cindy-Jade |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | This research pertains to bioleaching of copper containing ores with particular reference to the copper sulfide mineral chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). While it is focused on heap bioleaching, it has applications to stirred tank bioleaching operations. In the context of bioleaching, microbial extra-cellular polymeric substance (EPS) components are thought to complex chemical oxidants and extend the chemical reaction space available for mineral dissolution reactions, making the microbial-mineral-EPS interface the dominant active zone in terms of microbial oxidation and mineral dissolution. There is a limited understanding of microbial biofilm formation within a bioleach heap. The implication of various microorganisms having a set of defined or optimal conditions under which they colonise and proliferate is quite substantial. Understanding what creates favourable interfacial microenvironments enabling a sessile population to flourish (and thereby decrease lag time) has great implications for minimising costs and maximising productivity. Furthermore, limited work has been conducted on thermophilic microorganisms relevant to bioleaching. These microorganisms are pertinent to successful bioleaching at high temperatures, with work incorporating low grade ores and gangue mineralogy also being scarce. The aim of this research is to provide a thorough investigation into microbial-metal sulfide interfacial environments in situ, using a thermophilic archaeon M. hakonensis, low-grade metal-sulfide ores, a series of temperature regimes, heap-simulating conditions and an in depth extraction and analysis of the EPS produced under varied culturing conditions. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/25001 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:43.673Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publishDateRange | 2017 |
| publishDateSort | 2017 |
| publisher | Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research |
| publisherStr | Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/25001 Investigation of microbial metal-sulfide interfacial environments under mineral bioleach simulated conditions Africa, Cindy-Jade Harrison, Susan T L Van Hille, Robert P Bioprocess Engineering This research pertains to bioleaching of copper containing ores with particular reference to the copper sulfide mineral chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). While it is focused on heap bioleaching, it has applications to stirred tank bioleaching operations. In the context of bioleaching, microbial extra-cellular polymeric substance (EPS) components are thought to complex chemical oxidants and extend the chemical reaction space available for mineral dissolution reactions, making the microbial-mineral-EPS interface the dominant active zone in terms of microbial oxidation and mineral dissolution. There is a limited understanding of microbial biofilm formation within a bioleach heap. The implication of various microorganisms having a set of defined or optimal conditions under which they colonise and proliferate is quite substantial. Understanding what creates favourable interfacial microenvironments enabling a sessile population to flourish (and thereby decrease lag time) has great implications for minimising costs and maximising productivity. Furthermore, limited work has been conducted on thermophilic microorganisms relevant to bioleaching. These microorganisms are pertinent to successful bioleaching at high temperatures, with work incorporating low grade ores and gangue mineralogy also being scarce. The aim of this research is to provide a thorough investigation into microbial-metal sulfide interfacial environments in situ, using a thermophilic archaeon M. hakonensis, low-grade metal-sulfide ores, a series of temperature regimes, heap-simulating conditions and an in depth extraction and analysis of the EPS produced under varied culturing conditions. 2017-08-28T13:14:54Z 2017-08-28T13:14:54Z 2017 Doctoral Thesis Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25001 eng application/pdf Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Bioprocess Engineering Africa, Cindy-Jade Investigation of microbial metal-sulfide interfacial environments under mineral bioleach simulated conditions |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | Investigation of microbial metal-sulfide interfacial environments under mineral bioleach simulated conditions |
| title_full | Investigation of microbial metal-sulfide interfacial environments under mineral bioleach simulated conditions |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of microbial metal-sulfide interfacial environments under mineral bioleach simulated conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of microbial metal-sulfide interfacial environments under mineral bioleach simulated conditions |
| title_short | Investigation of microbial metal-sulfide interfacial environments under mineral bioleach simulated conditions |
| title_sort | investigation of microbial metal sulfide interfacial environments under mineral bioleach simulated conditions |
| topic | Bioprocess Engineering |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25001 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT africacindyjade investigationofmicrobialmetalsulfideinterfacialenvironmentsundermineralbioleachsimulatedconditions |