Bacterial leaching of metal sulfides proceeds by two indirect mechanisms via thiosulfate or via polysulfides and sulfur

Authors
Schippers, A Sand, W
Citation
A. Schippers et W. Sand, Bacterial leaching of metal sulfides proceeds by two indirect mechanisms via thiosulfate or via polysulfides and sulfur, APPL ENVIR, 65(1), 1999, pp. 319-321
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Biology,Microbiology
Journal title
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
ISSN journal
00992240 → ACNP
Volume
65
Issue
1
Year of publication
1999
Pages
319 - 321
Database
ISI
SICI code
0099-2240(199901)65:1<319:BLOMSP>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
The acid-insoluble metal sulfides FeS2, MoS2, and WS2 are chemically attack ed by iron(III) hexahydrate ions, generating thiosulfate, which is oxidized to sulfuric acid, Other metal sulfides are attacked by iron(III) ions and by protons, resulting in the formation of elemental sulfur via intermediary polysulfides, Sulfur is biooxidized to sulfuric acid. This explains leachi ng of metal sulfides by Thiobacillus thiooxidans.