摘要
Accumulation of toxic ions in leachate is one factor limiting bioleaching applications. The effect of fluoride ions on the growth of bioleaching microorganisms has been extensively emphasized. In this study, HF is found to be the toxic form of fluoride that affects the bacterial activity under acidic conditions. The added aluminum could compete with H^+ to complex with F-, thus significantly decrease the concentration of HF and finally reduce the toxicity of fluoride to bacteria. When F^-/Al^(3+)concentration ratio is 0.5:1.0, Fe^(2+) oxidation rate could reach 0.167 g·L^(-1)·h^(-1), close to that of the biotic control group(0.195 g·L^(-1)·h^(-1)). The competitive complexation mechanism of fluoride by AlF_n^(3-n) results in stability constants of AlF_n^(3-n) complex(7.00) that are larger than those of HF(3.18). The F^-/Al^(3+) concentration ratio in the medium could affect the speciation of AlF_n^(3-n) complex.With the decrease in F^-/Al^(3+) concentration ratio, the coordination numbers of AlF_n^(3-n) decrease. Finally, the feasibility of fluoride detoxification by aluminum ion is verified. This work has meaningful implications for fluoride-containing bacterial bioleaching systems.
Accumulation of toxic ions in leachate is one factor limiting bioleaching applications. The effect of fluoride ions on the growth of bioleaching microorganisms has been extensively emphasized. In this study, HF is found to be the toxic form of fluoride that affects the bacterial activity under acidic conditions. The added aluminum could compete with H^+ to complex with F-, thus significantly decrease the concentration of HF and finally reduce the toxicity of fluoride to bacteria. When F^-/Al^(3+)concentration ratio is 0.5:1.0, Fe^(2+) oxidation rate could reach 0.167 g·L^(-1)·h^(-1), close to that of the biotic control group(0.195 g·L^(-1)·h^(-1)). The competitive complexation mechanism of fluoride by AlF_n^(3-n) results in stability constants of AlF_n^(3-n) complex(7.00) that are larger than those of HF(3.18). The F^-/Al^(3+) concentration ratio in the medium could affect the speciation of AlF_n^(3-n) complex.With the decrease in F^-/Al^(3+) concentration ratio, the coordination numbers of AlF_n^(3-n) decrease. Finally, the feasibility of fluoride detoxification by aluminum ion is verified. This work has meaningful implications for fluoride-containing bacterial bioleaching systems.
基金
financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51404031 and U1608254)