Papers by Author: Geoffrey S. Simate

Abstract: Nickel laterite contains metal values but is not capable of participating in the primary chemolithotrophic bacterial oxidation because it contains neither Fe2+ iron nor substantial amount of reduced sulphur. Its metal value can, however, be recovered by allowing the primary oxidation of FeS2, or similar iron/sulphur minerals to provide H2SO4 acid solutions, which solubilise the metal content. This study investigated the possibility of treating nickel laterites using chemolithotrophic microorganisms. Preliminary studies conducted using H2SO4 acid, citric acid and acidified Fe2(SO4)3 gave an insight on the use of chemolithotrophic bacteria in this process,. Results showed that H2SO4 acid performed better, in terms of nickel recovery, than citric acid or acidified Fe2(SO4)3. In the bacterial leaching test works, mixed cultures of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus caldus and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans were used in the presence of elemental sulphur and FeS2 as energy sources. The sulphur substrate exhibited better effects in terms of bacterial growth, acidification and nickel recovery than the FeS2 substrate. Using response surface methodology, the theoretical optimum conditions for maximum nickel recovery (79.8%) within the conditions studied was an initial pH of 2.0, 63μm particle size and 2.6% pulp density.

Abstract: Identifying influential factors in the bacterial leaching of nickel laterites using a mixed culture of chemolithotrophic micro-organisms was explored using the approach of statistical design of experiments. In a series of experiments, pH, particle size, pulp density, type of substrate and inoculum size were statistically combined using a quarter fractional factorial designs 2 5−2 III and tested for their influence on nickel recovery using chemolithotrophic microorganisms. The results indicated that inoculum size was not statistically significant while the rest of the factors were statistically significant. Under the ranges studied the interaction between the variables was found to be weak. The results also showed that recovery was maximized at low pH and low pulp density. In the range studied, particles of less than 38μm had a negative influence on nickel recovery. Sulphur substrate also showed better effects than pyrite.