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Pressure oxidation is a process for extracting gold from refractory ore. The most common refractory ores are pyrite and arsenopyrite , which are sulfide ores that trap the gold within them. Refractory ores require pre-treatment before the gold can be adequately extracted. [ 1 ]
This process is accelerated by the action of Acidithiobacillus bacteria which oxidize pyrite to first produce ferrous ions (Fe 2+), sulfate ions (SO 2− 4), and release protons ( H +, or H 3 O +). In a second step, the ferrous ions (Fe 2+) are oxidized by O 2 into ferric ions (Fe 3+) which hydrolyze also releasing H + ions and producing FeO(OH).
The chemistry of oxidation of pyrites, the production of ferrous ions and subsequently ferric ions, is very complex, and this complexity has considerably inhibited the design of effective treatment options. [6] Although a host of chemical processes contribute to acid mine drainage, pyrite oxidation is by far the greatest contributor.
For example, groundwater commonly interacts with pyrite (FeS 2) to form an oxidized iron (FeO(OH)) and sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4), portrayed in the idealized chemical reaction below (intermediate steps omitted): 4 FeS 2 + 12 H 2 O + 15 O 2 → 4 FeO(OH) + 8 H 2 SO 4
The microbial oxidation process occurs at the cell membrane of the bacteria. The electrons pass into the cells and are used in biochemical processes to produce energy for the bacteria while reducing oxygen to water. The critical reaction is the oxidation of sulfide by ferric iron. The main role of the bacterial step is the regeneration of this ...
Bio-oxidation involves the use of bacteria that promote oxidation reactions in an aqueous environment. Pressure oxidation is an aqueous process for sulphur removal carried out in a continuous autoclave, operating at high pressures and somewhat elevated temperatures. The Albion process utilises a combination of ultrafine grinding and atmospheric ...
The strong acidification of the medium caused by pyrite oxidation releases bicarbonate ions (HCO − 3) or carbon dioxide (CO 2) along with calcium (Ca 2+) and sulfate ions (SO 2− 4). Full pyrite oxidation can be schematized as: 2 FeS 2 + 7.5 O 2 + 4 H 2 O → Fe 2 O 3 + 4 H 2 SO 4. The sulfuric acid released by pyrite oxidation then reacts ...
In that study, a proposal for the rate at which A.ferrooxidans can oxidise pyrite is the ability to use ferrous iron to generate a ferric iron catalyst : Fe 2+ + 1 ⁄ 4 O 2 + H + → Fe 3+ + 1 ⁄ 2 H 2 O. Under the above acidic conditions, ferric iron (Fe 3+) is a more potent oxidant than oxygen, resulting in faster pyrite oxidation rates.