Role of bacterial interaction and bioreagents in iron ore notation

Interaction between Paenibacillus polymyxa and iron ore minerals such as he matite, corundum, calcite, quartz and kaolinite brought about significant s urface chemical changes on all the minerals. Quartz and kaolinite were rend ered more hydrophobic, while the other three minerals became more hydrophil ic after bacterial interaction. Predominance of bacterial polysaccharides o n interacted hematite, corundum and calcite and of proteins on quartz and k aolinite was responsible for the surface chemical changes. The bacterial st rains could be preadapted to different mineral substrates. Corundum-adapted strains were seen to secrete mineral-specific proteins which could be used to separate alumina from iron ores. The utility of bioprocessing in the be neficiation of iron ores for removal of silica and alumina is demonstrated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.