Molecular Computer Simulation Method Research Articles

Quantum-Chemical Substantiation of Properties of a Bioreagent Oxidizing Nonferrous Metal Sulfides

A structural formula and quantum-chemical characteristics of the most energetically probable stable conformation of a bioreagent molecule, which is formed upon oxidizing iron(II) ions by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans autotrophic mesophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria in a sulfuric acid solution consisting of iron(III) ions and three acidic residues of glucuronic acid, are determined. The bioreagent oxidant is widely applied in industry for leaching metals from sulfide ores of nonferrous metals and concentrates of concentration. Quantum- chemical characteristics of the bioreagent molecule are analyzed in comparison with anhydrous iron(III) sulfate, which is also used in hydrometallurgy as an oxidant. To investigate the structure and quantum- chemical characteristics, the molecular computer simulation method, the theory of boundary molecular orbitals, and the Pearson principle are used. It is established that the most energetically probable stable conformation of the bioreagent molecule contains acidic residue of glucuronic acid with a noncyclic structure. According to the results of investigations, the bioreagent is referred to more rigid Lewis acid (the electron acceptor) than Fe2(SO4)3. The bioreagent molecule is less polarized and has lower absolute electronegativity and a twofold larger volume. The theoretical substantiation of the larger persistence of primary sulfides (pyrite, pentlandite, and chalcopyrite) relative to secondary minerals (pyrrhotine, chalcosine, and covellite) is proposed based on calculated values of boundary molecular orbitals; absolute rigidity; and the electronegativity of iron, copper, and nickel sulfides. Characteristics determining the interaction efficiency (volume, heat of formation, steric energy and its components, total energy, etc.) of the bioreagent are multiply larger than for Fe2(SO4)3. The larger oxidative activity of the bioreagent relative to Fe2(SO4)3 can be substantiated by a higher partial charge of the iron atom and a longer bond length between the atoms, the lower energy of the lowest free molecular orbital, and increased degree of the charge transfer during the bioreagent interaction with sulfide minerals.

Quantum-chemical substantiation of the properties of the bioreagent oxidizing non-ferrous metal sulfides

The paper determines the structural formula and quantum chemical characteristics of the most energetically probable, stable conformation of the bioreagent molecule formed during the oxidation of iron (II) ions by the autotrophic mesophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in a solution of sulfuric acid consisting of iron (III) ion and three acid residues of glucuronic acid. The bioreagent oxidant is widely used in the industry for leaching metals from non-ferrous sulfide ores and enrichment concentrates. The quantum chemical characteristics of the bioreagent molecule are analyzed in comparison with the characteristics of anhydrous iron (III) sulphate, also used in hydrometallurgy as an oxidizer. The structure and quantum-chemical characteristics are studied using the method of molecular computer simulation, the theory of boundary molecular orbitals, and the Pearson principle. It has been established that the most energetically probable, stable conformation of the bioreagent molecule contains the acid residues of glucuronic acid of a non-cyclic structure. According to the research results, the bioreagent refers to the more rigid Lewis acid – electron acceptor – than iron (III) sulphate. The bioreagent molecule is less polarized, characterized by lower absolute electronegativity and 2 times larger volume. A theoretical substantiation of the greater persistence of primary sulphides – pyrite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, relative to the secondary minerals – pyrrhotine, chalcocite and covellite is proposed based on the calculated values of the boundary molecular orbitals, absolute stiffness and electronegativity of iron, copper and nickel sulfides. The bioreagent characteristics that determine the interaction efficiency – volume, heat of formation, steric energy and its components, total energy, etc. are many times greater than for Fe2(SO4)3. The high oxidative activity of the bioreagent relative to Fe2(SO4)3 can be justified by the higher partial charge of the iron atom, the greater length of bonds between atoms, the lower energy of the lower free molecular orbitals and the greater degree of charge transfer during the interaction of the bioreagent with the sulfide minerals.