Open System Analysis of Bioextracted Iron during Leaching of Iron Oxide Ore using Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans

摘要

This paper presents an open systemic analysis of bioextracted iron during leaching of iron oxide ore using acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The analysis showed prediction of the concentration of bioextracted iron at varying initial bioleaching solution pH and as-beneficiated Fe content of the ore. An empirical model was derived, validated and used as a tool for the analysis. The validity of the polynomial model expressed as; ζ = 0.0077v~3 - 0.1618v~2 + 0.9345v + 0.0002s + 0.0931 was found to be rooted on the core expression ζ - 0.0002s - 0.0931 = 0.0077v~3 - 0.1618v~2 + 0.9345v where both sides of the expression are correspondingly approximately equal. Statistical analysis of the extracted iron concentration as obtained from experiment and derived model for each value of the initial bioleaching solution pH used shows standard errors of 0.3917 and 0.3780 respectively. Extracted iron concentrations per unit initial bioleaching solution pH as obtained from experiment and derived model are 0.0917 and 0.0784% Deviational analysis indicates that the maximum deviation of the model-predicted iron extraction (from experimental results) was less than 11%, implying a confidence level above 89%.