WANG Xin, LU An-huai, LI Yan, YAN Yun-hua, ZENG Cui-ping, DING Hong-rui, WANG Chang-qiu

（School of Earth and Space Sciences, PekingUniversity, Beijing 1000871）

Abstract: In this paper, how natural sphalerite stimulated Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans growth and its decomposition inhibitory action were studied. The result showed that natural sphalerite photocatalysis could support the growth of A. ferrooxidans by means of providing electron energy through the Fe3+/Fe2+ mediation. In the experiment with photocatalysis, the final cell concentration of A. ferrooxidans was 8×108 cell/mL while in the control without photocatalysis and open circuit the A. ferrooxidans concentrations were only 6×108 cell/mL and 4.95×108 cell/mL, respectively. At the same time, the Zn2+ concentration in the photocatalysis chamber was also measured using inductive coupled plasma emission spectrometer. With the photocatalysis, only about 3.5×10-6 of zinc dissolved while 5×10-6 dissolved in the experiment without photocatalysis. The results indicated that besides its stimulation of A. ferrooxidans growth, natural sphalerite photocatalysis also prevented itself decomposition and inhibited the metal ion releasing to the natural water.

Key words: natural sphalerite; Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans; photocatalysis; mineral weathering

E-mail: ahlu@pku.edu.cn

ACTA MINERALOGICA SINICA Vol. 31, No. 4, 2011, Page 641-646