The effect of particulate-induced hydrodynamic stress on the bioleaching of chalcopyrite by a Sulfolobus sp.

Raja, Sashnee B

The effect of particulate-induced hydrodynamic stress on the bioleaching of chalcopyrite by a Sulfolobus sp.

Doctoral Thesis

2005

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research

Faculty

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

Abstract

In slurry reactors, hydrodynamic stress originates primarily from interactions between particles and cells in the reactor. This form of stress has been shown to negatively affect the process performance. The present study centres on slurry reactors utilised in the bioleaching industry. The micro-organisms employed in these processes include mesophilic micro-organisms and, more recently, thermophilic microbes which have shown much promise for improving the rate and extent of leaching particularly of recalcitrant minerals such as chalcopyrite. The drawback to using high temperature microbes is that these thermoacidophiles, unlike their mesophilic counterparts, are Gram-negative Archaea, not bacteria, hence they do not possess resilient cell walls and are more prone to hydrodynamic injury.

Description

Includes bibliographical references.

Keywords

Bioprocess Engineering

Reference:

Collections

PhD / Doctoral

Full item page