Nanogeochemistry of hydrothermal magnetite

A.P. Deditius; M. Reich; A.C. Simon; A. Suvorova; J. Knipping; M.P. Roberts; S. Rubanov; A. Dodd; M. Saunders

doi:10.1007/s00410-018-1474-1

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Nanogeochemistry of hydrothermal magnetite

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Nanogeochemistry of hydrothermal magnetite

A.P. Deditius, M. Reich, A.C. Simon, A. Suvorova, J. Knipping, M.P. Roberts, S. Rubanov, A. Dodd and M. Saunders

Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, Vol.173(6)

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-018-1474-1

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Abstract

Accumulation of organic impurities (specifically oxalate) in Bayer liquor is a significant problem for alumina refineries. Microbial degradation is a low-cost solution to the problem, but hostile conditions of Bayer liquor (pH > 14 and nitrogen (N) deficiency) makes it challenging. The solution remains with selection of an appropriate haloalkaliphilic culture and alumina refineries currently have access to two types of bacterial cultures (N-supplemented and N-deficient cultures). To date there is no comparative assessment of the two cultures to examine which one is more suitable to reduce operational risks (i.e. with higher removal efficiencies over a broader range of pH) and costs. Hence, this study compared oxalate removal efficiencies of two packed bed biofilm reactors (N-supplemented and N-deficient) on exposure to a range of influent pH and simple organic compounds. Both reactors were operated (>265 days) at pH 9 and pH influence was compared in batch experiments. Results suggested that both biofilms could tolerate a broad pH range (7–10). The optimal specific oxalate removal rate of N-supplemented reactor was restricted to pH 9, whereas the maximal rate was maintained over a wider pH range (7–8) in N-deficient reactor. In this range, the N-deficient system outperformed the N-supplemented system (105 vs. 130 mg-oxalate/h.g-biomass). Although acclimatised primarily with oxalate, both biofilms simultaneously oxidised other organics (acetate, formate, malonate and succinate) without a noticeable influence on oxalate removal. This study suggests that N-deficient systems are more versatile and better suited to remove organic impurities in Bayer liquor.

Details

Title: Nanogeochemistry of hydrothermal magnetite
Authors/Creators: A.P. Deditius (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
M. Reich (Author/Creator) - University of Chile
A.C. Simon (Author/Creator) - University of Michigan
A. Suvorova (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
J. Knipping (Author/Creator) - University of Michigan
M.P. Roberts (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
S. Rubanov (Author/Creator) - The University of Melbourne
A. Dodd (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
M. Saunders (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
Publication Details: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, Vol.173(6)
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005542756307891
Copyright: © 2018 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Engineering and Information Technology
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 8 Earth Sciences; 8.8 Geochemistry, Geophysics & Geology; 8.8.1 Geochemical Petrogenesis
Web Of Science research areas: Geochemistry & Geophysics; Mineralogy
ESI research areas: Geosciences