MODELING OF FERROUS SULFATE OXIDATION BY THIOBACILLUS-FERROOXIDANS INDISCONTINUOUS CULTURE - INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE, PH AND AGITATION RATE

This paper studies the temperature effect on the specific growth rate of the microorganisms (mu(c)) as particular aspect of the mathematical relationships between mu(c) of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and the conc entrations of substrate (ferrous iron) and product (ferric iron). Unti l now, there have been few studies of this relationship; also, there h as been little work studying the influence of temperature on growth ki netics of this bacteria. In this paper, an extensive experimental phas e has been developed, with the aim of determining with precision the i nfluence of temperature on the maximum specific growth rate (mu(max)). The influence on the growth rate of T. ferrooxidans exerted by the in itial pH of the medium and by agitation rate has also been studied.