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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.
The pyrite is stable until exposed to air, at which point the pyrite rapidly oxidises and produces sulfuric acid. The impacts of acid sulfate soil leachate may persist over a long time, and/or peak seasonally (after dry periods with the first rains).
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.
The soil and groundwater are tested both before and after oxidant application to verify the effectiveness of the process. Monitoring of gases given off during oxidation can also help determine if contaminants are being destroyed. Elevated levels of CO 2 is an indicator of oxidation. [citation needed]
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 ...
Pyrite oxidation is sufficiently exothermic that underground coal mines in high-sulfur coal seams have occasionally had serious problems with spontaneous combustion. [47] The solution is the use of buffer blasting and the use of various sealing or cladding agents to hermetically seal the mined-out areas to exclude oxygen.
Also, the mineral pyrite is both the most common and most abundant sulfide mineral in the Earth's crust. [6] If rocks containing pyrite undergo metamorphism, there is a gradual release of volatile components like water and sulfur from pyrite. [6] The loss of sulfur causes pyrite to recrystallize into pyrrhotite. [6]
In situ chemical reduction (ISCR) is a type of environmental remediation technique used for soil and/or groundwater remediation to reduce the concentrations of targeted environmental contaminants to acceptable levels. It is the mirror process of In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO).