Dephosphorization of LD slag by phosphorus solubilising bacteria

Phosphorus is one of the major nutrients, and microbial solubilisation of insoluble mineral phosphate in soil is an important process in natural ecosystem and in agricultural soil. Many soil microorganisms display the ability to solubilize many insoluble inorganic phosphates. They are generally referred as phosphorus solubilising microorganisms (PSM). In this study an attempt was made to look into the phosphorus solubilisation efficiency of some commonly available soil bacteria and their possible application in bio-beneficiation of metallurgical waste like LD Slag. Linz -Donawitz (LD) slag is produced in large quantities (200 kg LD slag per ton of hot metal) and poses a substantial disposal problem in the iron and steel making industry. ID slag contains around 29% Ca, 21% Fe, and 5% Mg. Its phosphorus content is about 1.5-6%. Due to presence of high amount of Ca, it can be used as flux in blast furnace, but presence of high amount of phosphorus in the LD slag makes them unsuitable for industrial application. Removal of phosphorus with the help of phosphorus solubilising microorganisms may be a great advantage in biotechnological applications. Two gram positive bacteria belonging to genus Bacillus and two gram negative bacteria belonging to genus Pseudomonas were selected in this study. Phosphorus solubilisation efficiency was studied initially with tricalcium phosphate as model insoluble phosphate compound at different sugar concentration, NaCl concentration and at different initial pH of the medium. About 35% of 'P' could be solubilized from LD slag by Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 2% solid content. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.