Adhesion of microorganism cells and jarosite particles on the mineral surface

It has been know that during both bioleaching and biomodification of the mineral surface the microbial cell should be tenaciously adhered to the mineral surface. The main goal of this research was evaluate the effect of polysaccharides (dextrine) on both the bacterial cells and precipitated jarosite particles deposition onto the mineral surface. The determination of the free energy of solid surface was med. by means of the thin-layer wicking technique. It was found that the quartz particles which were covered by the dextrine film have value of gamma(LW)=121.44 mN/m (without dextrin gamma(LW) = 62.18 mN/m). The adsorption of dextrin caused a decrease of the gamma(-) component of the free energy from 171.90 to 123.19 mN/m. The treatment of both quartz and Sold refractory ore by polysaccharides caused an increase of the adhesion of microbial cells and jarosite colloid particles. The deposition of jarosite on the surface of gold ore stopped by the dispersing reagent addition.