EFFECT OF Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans-CYSTEINE INTERACTIONS ON PYRITE BIOOXIDATION BY Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans IN THE PRESENCE OF COAL COMPOUNDS

Abstract This study evaluated the biooxidation of pyrite contained in a Colombian coal (2.38 mm < particle size < 0.50 mm). The variables were cysteine concentration (0-600 mg/L) and culture type (pure Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (ATCC 23270) and a consortium of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (ATCC 15494) and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans). Pyrite oxidation for the assays without cysteine was 31.14% after 12 days. In the presence of pure A. ferrooxidans, oxidation increased by 8.18% in the assays containing 60 mg Cys/L. In contrast, the counterpart using the consortium exhibited a significa...