Relatedness between catalytic effect of activated carbon and passivation phenomenon during chalcopyrite bioleaching by mixed thermophilic Archaea culture at 65°C

The relatedness between catalytic effect of activated carbon and passivation phenomenon during chalcopyrite bioleachingby mixed thermophilic Archaea culture(Acidianus brierleyi,Metallosphaera sedula,Acidianus manzaensis and Sulfolobusmetallicus)at65°C was studied.Leaching experiments showed that the addition of activated carbon could significantly promote thedissolution of chalcopyrite for both bioleaching and chemical leaching.The results of synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction,ironL-edge and sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy indicated that activated carbon could change thetransition path of electrons through galvanic interactions to form more readily dissolved secondary mineral chalcocite at a low redoxpotential(?400mV)and then enhanced the copper dissolution.Jarosite accumulated immediately in the initial stage of bioleachingwith activated carbon but copper dissolution was not hindered.However,much jarosite precipitated on the surface of chalcopyrite inthe late stage of bioleaching,which might account for the decrease of copper dissolution rate.More elemental sulfur(S0)was alsodetected with additional activated carbon but the mixed thermophilic Archaea culture had a great sulfur oxidation activity,thus S0waseliminated and seemed to have no significant influence on the dissolution of chalcopyrite.

Effect of the surface microstructure of arsenopyrite on the attachment of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans in the presence of dissolved As(Ⅲ)

Understanding bacterial adsorption and the evolution of biofilms on arsenopyrite with different surface structures is of great signific-ance to clarifying the mechanism of microbe-mineral interfacial interactions and the production of acidic mine drainage impacting the environ-ment.In this study,the attachment of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans cells and subsequent biofilm formation on arsenopyrite with different surface structures in the presence of dissolved As(Ⅲ)was studied.Arsenopyrite slices with a specific surface were obtained by electrochemic-al corrosion at 0.26 V.The scanning electronic microscopy-energy dispersion spectra analyses indicated that the arsenopyrite surface deficient in sulfur and iron obtained by electrochemical treatment was not favorable for the initial adsorption of bacteria,and the addition of As(Ⅲ)in-hibited the adsorption of microbial cells.Epifluorescence microscopy showed that the number of cells attaching to the arsenopyrite surface in-creased with time;however,biofilm formation was delayed significantly when As(Ⅲ)was added.

Absolute measurement of radiant power for synchrotron radiation monochromatized X-rays

Purpose Absolute measurement of radiant power in the X-ray region is essential for many applications in astrophysics,spectroscopy,and X-ray diagnostics.This paper presents a dependable method of absolute measurement of radiant power for synchrotron radiation monochromatized X-rays.Methods A free-air ionization chamber was examined closely and employed as the detector in the present work.Its measuring principle was discussed,and the correction factors were determined.Absolute measurement of radiant power for synchro-tron radiation monochromatized X-rays in the region of 6-20 keV was performed using the free-air ionization chamber at Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility.As a verification and an important application,photodiodes were calibrated against the free-air ionization chamber.Results Relative standard uncertainties of absolute measurement using free-air ionization chamber are about 1%.Calibration of photodiodes within the photon energy range from 6 to 20 keV has relative standard uncertainties below 1.5%.Conclusion The free-air ionization chamber is qualified to be used in many disciplines to support the measurement of opti-cal radiation.