Bioleaching of pyrite by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans:: fixed grains electrode to study superficial oxidized compounds

An electrode with fixed pyrite grains on a graphite and silicon paste has been used to study the electrochemical processes at the surface of powdered pyrite during bioleaching by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The study of an air-oxidized pyrite shows that the fixed grains electrode (FCE) is more sensitive than the classical Carbon Paste Electrode (CPE) already used by different authors to characterize various oxides and sulfurs. On the other hand, the concommitant Raman and electrochemical analysis of autoclaved pyrite shows that the cleaned mineral FeS2 has no electrochemical reactivity, and points out that the electrochemical response of the oxidized mineral is exclusively due to the chemical compounds present at its surface. Therefore, the electrode acts as an efficient sensor for pyrite superficial oxidized phases, which are fundamental for the biooxidation process and is consequently very well adapted for the control of the oxidation state of pyrite powder during bioleaching by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. ((C) Academie des sciences / Elsevier, Paris.).