Oxygen mass transfer requirements during the growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on iron pyrite

The purpose of this study is the determination of the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficients (k) required to maintain the oxygen concentration above the critical level during the growth of T. ferrooxidans on solid substrate in the form of iron pyrite. Critical oxygen concentrations measured at several temperatures and at a pH of 2.5 indicate that the limiting oxygen concentration for the growth of T. ferrooxidans is approximately 5% of the oxygen concentration at saturation. Calculations show that, to prevent oxygen from limiting bacterial growth (hence leaching rate), the reactor must be designed to operate with a k-value equal to or greater than 58,5 hr/sup -1/. 14 refs