• 1 January 1975
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. B126  (2) , 209-219
Abstract
The microbiological oxidation of Fe2+ and the extraction of U from a low-grade ore was studied using an adapted strain of T. ferrooxidans. The effect of temperature, pH, volumetric O2 transfer coefficient (K1a) and aeration number (Ia) on the activity of the microorganism was determined. The activation energy for Fe2+ oxidation was calculated to be -13.9 .+-. 0.1 kcal/mol and inactivation (thermal death of bacteria) 53.3 .+-. 0.2 kcal/mol. Temperature coefficient (Q10), was estimated to be 1.8. U extraction varied between 80-100%.