5
reduced in source A, and siderite was present in the residue.
This suggests that carbon dioxide produced by the organ-
isms reacts with dissolved iron to form siderite. Future
work will focus on a detailed analysis of the ore residue
to examine its morphology and mineral structure. Table 3
provides a quantitative analysis of the mineral phases pres-
ent in the ore tailings both before and after the leaching
process, illustrating the changes in composition as a result
of bioleaching.
CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed the feasibility of iron-reducing organ-
isms in reducing iron from iron ore tailings. Results from
leaching flask experiments demonstrate that higher concen-
trations of dissolved iron from both goethite and hematite
can be effectively achieved by reductive bioleaching.
Iron bioleaching on Source A tailings reached a maxi-
mum concentration of 1177 mg/L, with 49% iron dissolved
over 368 days at a pH range of 3.95 to 5.36. For Source B,
Figure 6. Graph showing the dissolved iron concentration in bioleaching experiments on the
tailings collected from source B, where hematite was the dominant form of iron oxide
Figure 7. Comparison of cumulative iron dissolved in 368 days
reduced in source A, and siderite was present in the residue.
This suggests that carbon dioxide produced by the organ-
isms reacts with dissolved iron to form siderite. Future
work will focus on a detailed analysis of the ore residue
to examine its morphology and mineral structure. Table 3
provides a quantitative analysis of the mineral phases pres-
ent in the ore tailings both before and after the leaching
process, illustrating the changes in composition as a result
of bioleaching.
CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed the feasibility of iron-reducing organ-
isms in reducing iron from iron ore tailings. Results from
leaching flask experiments demonstrate that higher concen-
trations of dissolved iron from both goethite and hematite
can be effectively achieved by reductive bioleaching.
Iron bioleaching on Source A tailings reached a maxi-
mum concentration of 1177 mg/L, with 49% iron dissolved
over 368 days at a pH range of 3.95 to 5.36. For Source B,
Figure 6. Graph showing the dissolved iron concentration in bioleaching experiments on the
tailings collected from source B, where hematite was the dominant form of iron oxide
Figure 7. Comparison of cumulative iron dissolved in 368 days