Fast Kinetics of Fe2+ Oxidation in Packed-Bed Reactors

TLDR: In this paper, a fixed-film bioreactor was used to oxidize ferrous sulfate to ferric sulfate, and activated carbon particles were tested as support matrix materials.

Abstract: Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was used in fixed-film bioreactors to oxidize ferrous sulfate to ferric sulfate. Glass beads, ion-exchange resin, and activated-carbon particles were tested as support matrix materials. Activated carbon was tested in both a packed-bed bioreactor and a fluidized-bed bioreactor; the other matrix materials were used in packed-bed reactors. Activated carbon displayed the most suitable characteristics for use as a support matrix of T. ferrooxidans fixed-film formation. The reactors were operated within a pH range of 1.35 to 1.5, which effectively reduced the amount of ferric iron precipitation and eliminated diffusion control of mass transfer due to precipitation. The activated-carbon packed-bed reactor displayed the most favorable biomass holdup and kinetic performance related to ferrous sulfate oxidation. The fastest kinetic performance achieved with the activated-carbon packed-bed bioreactor was 78 g of Fe2+ oxidized per liter per h (1,400 mmol of Fe2+ oxidized per liter per h) at a true dilution rate of 40/h, which represents a hydraulic retention time of 1.5 min.