Optimization of physicochemical parameters for bioleaching of sphalerite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans using shaking bioreactors

Bioleaching processes for extraction of zinc from sphalerite are more environmentally friendly and consume less energy than conventional technologies but are as yet less economic. One necessary step towards arriving at a cost-effective sphalerite bioleaching process is the use of appropriate methodology for the optimization of pertinent factors in such processes. Previous studies on Zn bioleaching systems have reported a fairly wide range of values as the optimum level of relevant physicochemical parameters for Zn bioleaching processes. This is partly due to the different strains and Zn source type employed but another reason could be that important parameters in this process interact with each other. In order to shed more light on this matter, in the present work Response Surface Methodology was employed for the study and optimization of important factors in a sphalerite bioleaching process by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans using shaking bioreactors. The effect of change in the levels of temperature, pH, initial Fe(II) concentration and pulp density - in the range 30-36 degrees C, 1.4-2.0, 3-11 g L-1 and 4-6% wt/vol respectively - on the rate Zn bioleaching was studied using a Central Composite Design. The results showed a statistically significant effect of pH and pulp density and to a lesser extent temperature and initial Fe(II) concentration - on the rate of bioleaching of Zn. A statistically significant interaction was found between pH and temperature, which means that the optimum values of these two parameters can only be correctly obtained through the use of factorial design of experiments. Additionally, the optimum level of temperature and pH was found to depend on the level of pulp density. This means that when employing shaking bioreactors for optimization of these parameters the level of pulp density should be carefully chosen. However, there was no statistically significant interaction between initial Fe(II) concentration and the other three factors studied. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.