Removal of Fe from kaolin using dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacteria

LongYan kaolin has a large Fe content which affects the coloring. Bioleaching treatments to remove Fe impurities were conducted here using indigenous dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacteria. The factors that affect bioleaching efficiency include bioleaching time, carbon source, pH, temperature, pulp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clays and clay minerals 2010-08, Vol.58 (4), p.515-521
Main Authors: Guo Minrong, Guo Minrong, He Qiuxiang, He Qiuxiang, Li Yuman, Li Yuman, Lu Xiaoqiao, Lu Xiaoqiao, Chen Zuliang, Chen Zuliang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asia
bacteria
beneficiation
Biogeosciences
Bioleaching
China
Dissimilatory
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Economic geology
Exact sciences and technology
Far East
Fe(iii)-Reducing Bacteria
ferric iron
Fujian China
Geochemistry
geomicrobiology
iron
Iron Impurity
Kaolin
kaolin deposits
leaching
Longyan Deposit
Medicinal Chemistry
metals
microorganisms
Mineralogy
Nanoscale Science and Technology
nonmetals
purification
reduction
rock, sediment, soil
Silicates
Soil Science & Conservation
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Summary:LongYan kaolin has a large Fe content which affects the coloring. Bioleaching treatments to remove Fe impurities were conducted here using indigenous dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacteria. The factors that affect bioleaching efficiency include bioleaching time, carbon source, pH, temperature, pulp density, and inoculum density and these were examined. Environmental scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to examine any textural or mineralogical changes at the surface of the kaolin that may have occurred during the bioleaching. Iron impurities in the kaolin were reduced from 0.88% to 0.48% with an increase in the natural whiteness index from 60.8% to 81.5% after 7 days of bioleaching treatment. A granulometric analysis of dispersed kaolin demonstrated that the bioleaching resulted in a decrease in particle size. The results demonstrated that the bioleaching was very effective at improving the quality of the kaolin, where insoluble Fe(III), either adsorbed to the kaolin surfaces or admixed as amorphous forms, was leached out by micro-organisms as water-soluble Fe(II).
ISSN:0009-8604
1552-8367
DOI:10.1346/CCMN.2010.0580406