Annamaria Vilinska

Leptosririllum ferrooxidans-sulfide mineral interactions with reference to bioflotation nad bioflocculation

Abstract The adhesion of ferrous ions grown Leptospirillum ferrooxidans cells on pyrite and chalcopyrite minerals was investigated through adsorption, Zeta-potential and diffuse reflectance FT-IR measurements. The influence of bacterial species on minerals floatability was determined by Hallimond flotation tests while the flocculation behaviour was examined by Turbiscan measurements. The minerals iso-electric point (pH 6.5−7.5) after interaction with bacterial cells shifted towards cells iso-electric point (pH 3.3), indicating the chemical nature of cells adsorption on mineral surfaces. The FT-IR spectra of minerals treated with bacterial cells showed the presence of all the cell functional groups signifying cells adsorption. The bacterial cells adsorption on chalcopyrite was higher compared with pyrite, which agreed with cells greater depression effect on chalcopyrite flotation and pronounced flocculation behaviour in comparison with pyrite.

Surface Thermodynamics of Mucoadhesive Dry Powder Formulation of Zolmitriptan

Microparticle powders for nasal delivery were formulated to contain the model drug, zolmitriptan, and varying proportions of different polymers. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of these formulative parameters on the surface chemistry of the spray-dried microparticles and their potential for adhesion to the tested substrates, porcine mucin, and nasal tissue. The polymers used were chitosans of varying ionization states and molecular weights and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. The surface energies of the surfaces of the microparticles were determined using contact angle measurements and the van Oss model. The theory of surface thermodynamics was applied to determine the theoretical potential for the different materials to adhere to the substrates. It was found that the drug or polymers alone, as well as the various formulations, were more likely to adhere to mucin than to nasal tissue. Further, there was a trend for higher molecular weight chitosans to adhere better to the substrates than lower molecular weight chitosans. Similarly, adhesion was improved for formulations with a higher content of polymers. These theoretical predictions may be compared with further experimental results and be of use in making informed decisions on the choice of formulations for future expensive bio-studies.

Selective Coagulation in Chalcopyrite/Pyrite Mineral System Using Acidithiobacillus Group Bacteria

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cells grown in ferrous ions were used to study the surface modification of pyrite and chalcopyrite, with focus on coagulation of very fine particles (-5 m). The zeta-potential studies of the minerals, before and after bacterial treatment, showed that the cells have a distinct influence on the surface charge of pyrite and chalcopyrite. The maximum coagulation of particles determined by Turbiscan as a function of pH correlated well with the zetapotential results. Using diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopic studies, the adhesion of cells showed a varied influence on these minerals. The results demonstrate that Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans interact with pyrite and chalcopyrite differently, allowing selective coagulation of one mineral from the other under different pH conditions.

Surface Characterization of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Adapted to High Copper and Zinc Ions Concentration

Changes in surface chemical properties of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans after adaptation to high copper and zinc ion concentration were studied by surface sensitive techniques such as zeta-potential, XPS and FT-IR measurements. The adapted bacteria were also characterized by their surface energies and adhesion capacities on different sulphide minerals. Their surface negative charge was decreased due to changes in the structure of bacterial surface layers. The metal ions adapted cells secreted more extracellular polymeric substances with a modified composition compared to unadapted ferrous ions grown cells. Bacterial cells hydrophilic property increased after adaptation and altered their adhesion behavior to sulphide mineral.

Mixed Anionic/Non-Ionic Collectors in Phosphate Gangue Flotation from Magnetite Fines

Adsorption, contact angle and flotation of anionic Atrac and non-ionic ethaloxylated nonylphenol surfactant, and their mixture on apatite and magnetite were studied. The effect of calcium ions and sodium silicate on Atrac adsorp- tion was investigated. The effect of Atrac adsorption on the contact angle data of apatite and magnetite in the presence and absence of sodium silicate was also examined. Wettability of solids depends on solids surface free energy and the surface energies of apatite and magnetite powders were calculated from polar and non-polar liquid contact angle data. A decrease in particle size increased the polar contribution to surface free energy due to unsaturated broken bonds on the surface. Atrac is seen to adsorb equally on apatite and magnetite, and the adsorption increased in the presence of calcium ions. The presence of water glass decreased the Atrac contact angle data on magnetite and also the flotation response demonstrating its role as magnetite depressant in flotation. The presence of non-ionic surfactant enhanced the Atrac flota- tion of apatite with no flotation of magnetite. Bench-scale flotation tests showed that 50% of Atrac can be replaced with non-ionic collector without impairing the flotation results. Results also illustrate that the non-ionic adsorbs on apatite in equal amount of Atrac collector signifying 1:1 composition of anionic and non-ionic collector on apatite surface. Non- ionic head group sitting in between anionic head groups screens the electrostatic repulsion and forms compact adsorbed layer on apatite surface thereby increasing the hydrophobicity and flotation.

Stabilization of Silicon Carbide (SiC) micro- and nanoparticle dispersions in the presence of concentrated electrolyte.

Achieving a stable and robust dispersion of ultrafine particles in concentrated electrolytes is challenging due to the shielding of electrostatic repulsion. Stable dispersion of ultrafine particles in concentrated electrolytes is critical for several applications, including electro-codeposition of ceramic particles in protective metal coatings. We achieved the steric stabilization of SiC micro- and nano-particles in highly concentrated electroplating Watts solutions using their controlled coating with linear and branched polyethyleneimines (PEI) as dispersants. Branched polyethyleneimine of 60,000 MW effectively disperses both microparticles and nanoparticles at a concentration of 1000 ppm. However, lower polymer dosages and smaller polymers fail to disperse, presumably due to insufficient coverage and bridging flocculation. Dispersion stability correlates well with the adsorption density of PEI on microparticles. We discuss the results in the framework of DLVO theory and suggest possible dispersion mechanisms. However, though the dispersion is enhanced with extended adsorption time, the residual PEI in solution adversely affects electroplating. We overcome this drawback by precoating the particles with the polymer and resuspending them in Watts solution. With this novel approach, we obtained robust dispersions. These results offer new possibilities to control dispersion at high electrolyte concentration, as well as bring new insights into the dispersion phenomenon.

Microorganisms in Bioflotation and Bioflocculation: Potential Application and Research Needs

Conventionally, physico-chemical methods are used in mineral processing for recovering value minerals from ores. The ageing of ore processing tailings and waste rocks, and mining tailings contamination by chemical reagents constitute a major threat to the environment. It is imperative to develop novel economically more efficient and environmentally benign methods of flotation and waste processing, exploiting the intriguing and exciting ability of bacteria to selectively modify the surface properties of solids. Microorganisms have not only facilitate hydrometallurgical leaching operations but have also show a great promise in mineral beneficiation processes such as flotation and flocculation. Several laboratory investigations revealed that microorganisms could function similar to traditional reagents. Microorganisms have a tremendous influence on their environment through the transfer of energy, charge, and materials across a complex biotic mineral-solution interface. The bio-modification of mineral surfaces involves the complex action of microorganism on the mineral surface. The manner, in which bacteria affect the surface reactivity and the mechanism of bacteria adsorption, is still unknown and accumulation of the primary data in this area is only starting. The bio-flotation and bio-flocculation processes concern the mineral response to the bacterium presence, which is essentially interplay between microorganism and the physicochemical properties of the mineral surface, such as the atomic and electronic structure, the net charge/potential, acid-base properties, and wettability of the surface. There is an urgent need for developing basic knowledge that would underpin biotechnological innovations in the natural resource (re)processing technologies that deliver competitive solutions.