Efficient dealkalization of red mud and recovery of valuable metals by a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium.

ABSTRACT: Red mud (RM) is a highly alkaline polymetallic waste generated via the Bayer process during alumina production. It contains metals that are critical for a sustainable development of modern society. Due to a shortage of global resources of many metals, efficient large-scale processing of RM has been receiving increasing attention from both researchers and industry. This study investigated the solubilization of metals from RM, together with RM dealkalization, via sulfur (S⁰) oxidation catalyzed by the moderately thermophilic bacterium Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans. Optimization of the bioleaching process was conducted in shake flasks and 5-L bioreactors, with varying S⁰:RM mass ratios and aeration rates. The ICP analysis was used to monitor the

SUBMITTER: Zhang DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9465049 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature