Potentiality of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in Microbial Solubilization of Phosphate Mine Tailings

Authors

  • S Dhakar Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan INDIA
  • N Ali College of Technology and Engg., Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Raj.) 313001,India
  • R S Chauhan University College of Science, M.L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur (Raj.) 313001, India
  • V Yadav Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals, Udaipur (Raj.) 313001, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15243/jdmlm.2015.023.355

Keywords:

Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, dolomite, mine tailings, solubilization, sulphur oxidation

Abstract

This paper deals with the solubilization behavior of the tailings produced by the floatation of a complex low grade phosphate ore. The composition of the tailings was essentially dolomite (52.04%) with minor amounts of phosphate, iron and aluminium oxides (10.4 and 0.5% respectively).   The presence of these products created uncontrolled land pollution and severely affected groundwater. An initiative has been taken up for utilization of this waste to generate an eco-friendly product. First step towards this panorama is incorporation of suitable microorganisms for the biodegradation of this effluent. Sulphur oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans produces sulphuric acid which neutralizes the dolomitic tailings and convert it into plant available forms. The solubilization activity was tested in sulphur medium with 5, 10, 15 and 20% concentration of tailings. The solubilization is graded on the basis of pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), soluble calcium and magnesium and soluble phosphate. The results from ex-situ experiments showed that the treatment with 15% tailings ended with highest solubilization. The values of pH, EC, soluble calcium and magnesium and soluble phosphate for this treatment were 4.92, 31.6 dS/m, 10.8 mL EDTA and 17.24 µg/mL respectively. Also, the results proved that sulphur oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans is capable of solubilizing dolomitic tailings from the Jhamarkotra mines. Finally, an important factor taken into account wassolubilization of residual phosphate along with dolomite in the tailings. This combined action affects the solubilization behaviour of the residue, which was also showed successfully with the assayed laboratory studies.

References

Anandham, R., Sridar, R., Nalayini, P., Poonguzhali,S., Madhaiyan, M. and Tongmin, S. 2007. Potential for plant growth promotion in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cv. ALR-2 byco-inoculation of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and Rhizobium. Microbiological Research 162: 139–153.

Babel, S., Chauhan, R.S. and, Ali, N. 2015. Preparation of Phosphate Mine Tailings and Low Grade Rock Phosphate enriched bio-fertilizer. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research (accepted for publication)

Findley, J., Appleman, M. D. and Yen, T.F. 1974. Degradation of oil shale by sulphur oxidising bacteria. Applied Microbiology. 28: 460-464.

Fruehan, R.J., Li, Y. and Brabie, L. 2003. Dissolution of magnesite and dolomite in simulated EAF slags. Proceeding of the ISSTech Conference, ISS of AIME, Indianapolis in April 2003 p. 799-812.

Gomez, C. and Bosecker, K. 1999 Leaching of heavy metals from contaminated soil by using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans or Thiobacillus thiooxidans. Geomicrobiology Journal. 16: 233–244.

Hortenstine, C.C. and Rothwell, D.F. 1972. Use of municipal compost in reclamation of phosphate-mining sand tailings. Journal of Environmental Quality. 1: 415-418

Nancucheo, I. and Johnson, D.B. 2011. Significance of microbial communities and interactions in safeguarding reactive mine tailings by ecological engineering. Applied Environmental Microbiology 77:8201-8208.

Olsen, S.R., Cole, C.V., Watanabe, F.S. and Dean, L.A. 1954. Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. USDA Circular, Government. Printing Office Washington D.C. 939: 1-19.

Ranawat, P.S., Kumar, K.M. and Sharma, N.K. 2009. Production of epsom, gypsum and other industrial products from the mill tailings of Jhamarkotra rock phosphate project, India. Current Science 96: 713-717.

Stamford, N.P., Silva, A.J.N., Freitas, A.D.S. and Filho, A.J. 2002. Effect of sulphur inoculated with Thiobacillus on soil salinity and growth of tropical tree legumes. Bioresource Technology 819: 53–59.

Waksman, S.A. and Joffe, I.S. 1925. Microorganisms concerned with the oxidation of sulphur in soil: Thiobacillus thiooxidans, a new sulphur oxidizing organism isolated from the soil. Journal of Bacteriology 7: 239–256.

Downloads

Submitted

04-04-2015

Accepted

06-04-2015

Published

19-04-2015

How to Cite

Dhakar, S., Ali, N., Chauhan, R. S., & Yadav, V. (2015). Potentiality of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in Microbial Solubilization of Phosphate Mine Tailings. Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management, 2(3), 355–360. https://doi.org/10.15243/jdmlm.2015.023.355

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2015)

Section

Research Article

License

Submission of a manuscript implies: that the work described has not been published before (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, or thesis) that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere; that if and when the manuscript is accepted for publication, the authors agree to automatic transfer of the copyright to the publisher.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Scientific Journal by Eko Handayanto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://ub.ac.id.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://ircmedmind.ub.ac.id/.