Abstract
The purpose of this research was threefold: to change the surface tension of an ore-leaching solution through adding surfactants, to improve the bioleaching of sulfide ore, and to strengthen the desulfurization effect of microorganisms on sulfide ore. Taking different types of surfactants in various concentrations as the impact factors, we evaluated their effect on the relationship between the change rate of surface tension, the attenuation coefficient of the surfactants, and the ore surface desulfurization rate. The experimental results indicate that when surfactants of different types and of different concentrations are added to an ore-leaching solution, they can change the solution’s surface tension by different degrees and can influence the effects of bacterial desulfurization. The experimental combination with the highest surface desulfurization rate had a dosage of bacterial agent (Thiobacillus acidophilus) of 40 mL, a desulfurization treatment time of 5 days, and a surfactant (Tween80) concentration of 0.1 %-a combination that achieved 31.68 % desulfurization. By this method, we effectively promoted the desulfurization effect of Thiobacillus acidophilus on sulfide ore and ultimately improved the leaching effect. We then used the best surfactant as the leaching aid in subsequent experiments on microbial leaching desulfurization. A three-dimensional reconstruction of the temperature field of an ore heap was conducted by simulating the dynamic self-heating process of the ore heap. The final results showed that the self-heating of the sulfide ore heap that we treated by desulfurizing bacteria was hindered to some extent, and therefore the goal of preventing the spontaneous combustion of sulfide ore was achieved.
Published Version
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