• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2001

The activity of microorganisms is an important factor that determines the efficiency of the bacterial recovery of precious metals from low-grade ore. Metal-leaching microorganisms must have a tolerance, within the concentration levels encountered to leached metals. In this study, the tolerance levels of Thiobacillus ferroxidans to the single and mixed metal ions systems, composed of $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Ni^{2+}$, and $Cd^{2+}$ were investigated. When single metal ions of $Zn^{2+}$ (10~60 g/L), $Cu^{2+}$ (1~6 g/L), $Ni^{2+}$ (1~6 g/L), or $Cd^{2+}$ (1~6 g/L) were added to the growth medium of T. ferrooxidans, the iron oxidation rate of this bacterium was not significantly inhibited. The maximum inhibition percentage observed on the iron oxidation rate of T. ferrooxidans was approximately 50% in the medium supplemented with two or three mixed metal ions of $Cu^{2+}$, $Ni^{2+}$, and $Cd^{2+}$. However, when $Zn^{2+}$ was also added to the medium with the other metal ions, the inhibitory effect on the iron oxidation activity of T. ferroxidans was remarkably increased.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.91-100
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• 1975

The chemolithoautotrophic bacteria, Freeobacillus ferroxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans were identified according to their immunological and serological properties. The antibody to these organisms was easily elicited in experimental animals, however, the overall serologicl reactivities were low according to different kinds of titration methods. By means of the quantitive and qualitative analysis such as hemagglutination or ouchterlony tests, F.ferroxidans and T. thiooxidans were different in their immunoreactivities, whereas the strains among the F.ferrooxidans were possessed, in some extent, the sharing antigenic determinants. In the results of the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/radioimmunometric method, the major antigenic determinants of the organisms illustrated the type specificitles in the fraction number of 20-30 in their gel electrophoretograms with some modifications of the antigenic moieties.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.423-426
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• 2002

A novel process for $H_2S$ gas treatment has been introduced, based on the combined action of a chemical absorption step and a biological step involving the biocatalytic activity of the bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The aim of this study is the development of a process for $H_2S$ elimination from gas streams based on that chemical/biological method. The immobilized biomass reactor/chemical adsorption system is suitable for application of the removal of $H_2S$. A double stage reactor was used for the experimental work. The removal efficiencies of over 99% were observed in the range of inlet $H_2S$ concentration from 200 to 1,000ppm. The novel process showed the stable elimination efficiencies of over 95% under the retention time range from 20 to 40sec at the 1,000ppm of $H_2S$ inlet concentration.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.428-432
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• 2003

In this study, we demonstrated that high cell density for Thiobacillus ferrooxidans could be obtained when optimal conditions for cell growth were maintained using electrochemical cultivation with sufficient aeration. The optimal pH for cultivation were determined to be $2.0{\pm}0.05$. When the current and potential were set to 0.15A, 4V, the Pt electrode reduced $Fe^{3+}$ to $Fe^{2+}$ with efficiency of 85%. Under these condition, cells at an initial density of 0.0025 g-dry cell/L grew for 8days until the cell density was 0.0576 g-dry cell/L. this was a 7-fold increase over conventional batch culture.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.400-402
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• 2002

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.295-301
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• 2001

The leaching effect of Thiobacillus ferrooxidance (ATCC 19859) upon polished pyrite ore in 9K medium at $30^{circ}C$ for 30 days was investigated. The surface atomic ratios for Fe, S, Al, Si, and Cu were analyzed by EPMA using fresh and leached samples. The atomic ratio of Fe and S were changed to Fe rich phase as leaching progressed over 13 days but the Fe/S ratio became constant between 13 and 30 days. SEM imaging showed that $10\mum$ oblong shapes formed on the surface after 13 days and that these further developed until 23 days. Fe, S and K atomic ratios were analyzed by SEM-EDS.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.3-15
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• 2008

Different toxic wastes are disposed of in our surroundings and these will ultimately threaten the existence of living organisms. Biohydrometallurgy, which includes the processes of bioleaching and bioremediation through the activities of microorganisms such as bacterial or fungal species, is a technology that has the potential to overcome many environmental problems at a reasonable economic cost. Bioleaching were carried out for dissolution of metals from different materials using most important metal mobilizing bacteria such as Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Laptospirillum ferrooxidans. According to the reaction, bioleaching is parted as direct and indirect mechanism. In direct mechanism the bacteria oxidize the sulphides minerals by accepting electron and producing sulphuric acid in leaching media for their growth and metabolism. In other hand the indirect bioleaching is demonstrated as the oxidation of sulphides mineral by the oxidant like $Fe^{3+}$ produced by the iron oxidizing bacteria. Through this process, substantial amount of metal can be recovered from low-grade ores, concentrates, industrial wastes like sludge, tailings, fly ash, slag, electronic scrap, spent batteries and spent catalysts. This may be alternative technology to solve the high deposition of waste, which moves toward a healthy environment and green world.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.91-93
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• 1999

충북 단양에 위치한 조일 광산에서 채취한 구리와 아연으로 오염된 광미 (광산 폐기물로서 금속 추출 후 남은 찌꺼기)를 효율적으로 처리하기 위하여 생물학적 용출기법(bioleaching)의 효율 증진에 관한 연구를 수행하였다. 기본 배지 조성(9K medium) 중 미생물의 성장 및 증식, 용출 효율에 영향을 미치는 인자인 에너지원, 인, 질소원의 농도를 변화시키며 배지 조성에 따른 중금속의 용출 효율을 관찰하였다. 그 결과 인 농도 변화는 인을 첨가하지 않았을 때, 아연과 구리의 용출 효율이 각각 98.8%와 47.5%로 나타났고, 질소원은 45mM 농도로 주입하였을 때 아연, 구리 각각 85%와 46.4%의 용출 효율을 보였다. 에너지원 변화에 서는 아연의 경우 에너지원을 첨가하지 않았을 때 93%의 용출 효율을 나타냈고, 구리의 경우는 160mM 첨가했을 때 46.4%로 가장 높은 용출 효율을 나타냈다.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.446-450
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• 2003

Maximum adsorption amount of the mixed culture, $2.06{\times}10^{11} cells/g$ is closed to the sum of that of each bacterial component: $1.39{\times}10^{11}cells/g$ for T. ferrooxidans and $1.08{\times}10^{11}cells/g$ for T. thiooxidans. These indicate that the two bacterial species have almost independent preferential adsorption sites on furnace dust. However, the efficiency of leaching, 35% for mixture, 45% for T.f. and 30% for T.t., was not linearly related to the ratio of adsorption in three different systems even though it was increased in parallel with the bacterial adsorption in the same system.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.238-245
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• 1996

Microbial desulfurization characterlstics of a bituminous coal have been determined by using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The effects of process variables (such as coal pulp density, particle size and addition of surfactants) on pyrite removal have been investigated in both shake and airlift-bioreactor culture experiments. In shake experiments, pyrite could be removed over 78% for pulp densifies below 20% (w/v) and removed below 40% for pulp densities over 30% (w/v) in 8 days. Pyrite removal decreased with increasing pulp densities, and it also decreased sharply with increasing particle sizes. In airlift bioreactor experiments, pyrite at 50% (w/v) pulp density could be removed about 50%. Its value is much higher than 15% at the same pulp density in a shake experiment. With addition of surfactants, pyrite removal was enhanced in shake experiments significantly, whereas it was slightly decreased in an airlift bioreactor experiment.