Kinetic model for simultaneous leaching of zinc sulfide and manganese dioxide in the presence of iron-oxidizing bacteria

The effect of iron-oxidizing bacteria on the simultaneous leaching of zinc sulfide and manganese dioxide was studied. Some researchers have reported the enhancement of the leaching rate during the simultaneous reaching of metal oxides and metal sulfides. In the present study, we examined the effect of the presence of Thiobacillus ferroxidans in the simultaneous leaching. We also examined the reaction rates during the simultaneous leaching in the presence of the bacteria in order to study the reaction kinetics. The rate equation was obtained for each reaction: the oxidation of zinc sulfide by ferric iron, the oxidation of zinc sulfide by ferric iron and by the bacteria, the reductive dissolution of manganese dioxide by ferrous iron, and the simultaneous dissolution of zinc sulfide and manganese dioxide. A kinetic model based on these equations was proposed and the extent of leaching during the simultaneous dissolution with T. ferrooxidans was determined. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.