Bioleaching of metals from anaerobic sewage sludge: Effects of total solids, leaching microorganisms, and energy source

The effects of municipal sewage sludge solids concentration, leaching microorganisms (Thiobacillus thiooxidans or Thiobacillus ferrooxidans) and the addition of energy source (SO or Fe(II)) on the bioleaching of metals from sewage sludge has been investigated under laboratory conditions using shake flasks. The results show that metal solubilization was better accomplished if additional energy source is supplemented to the microorganisms and that T. thiooxidans furnishes, in general, more adequate conditions for the bioleaching than T. ferrooxidans. At a total solids concentration of 70 g L-1 (originally present in the sludge) pH drop and ORP increase are attenuated, so metal solubilization is negatively affected. Tt was also demonstrated that if lead (Pb) solubilization is to be achieved, than a special combination of microorganism/energy source must be applied.

Thermal studies on solid compounds of 4-chlorobenzylidenepyruvate of some alkali earth metals

Solid-state M-4-Cl-BP compounds, where M stands for bivalent Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and 4-Cl-BP is 4-chlorobenzylidenepyruvate, have been synthesized. Simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and complexometry were used to characterize and to study the thermal behaviour of these compounds. The results led to informations about the composition, dehydration, thermal stability and thermal decomposition of the isolated complexes.

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans response to copper and other heavy metals: growth, protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation

Respirometric experiments demonstrated that the oxygen uptake by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans strain LR was not inhibited in the presence of 200 mM copper. Copper-treated and untreated cells from this T. ferrooxidans strain were used in growth experiments in the presence of cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc. Growth in the presence of copper was improved by the copper-treated cells. However, no growth was observed for these cells, within 190 h of culture, when cadmium, nickel and zinc were added to the media. Changes in the total protein synthesis pattern were detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for T. ferrooxidans LR cells grown in the presence of different heavy metals. Specific proteins were induced by copper (16, 28 and 42 kDa) and cadmium (66 kDa), whereas proteins that had their synthesis repressed were observed for all the heavy metals tested. Protein induction was also observed in the cytosolic and membrane fractions from T. ferrooxidans LR cells grown in the presence of copper. The level of protein phosphorylation was increased in the presence of this metal.

Tangential-flow ultrafiltration: a versatile methodology for determination of complexation parameters in refractory organic matter from Brazilian water and soil samples

In this work the copper(II) complexation parameters of aquatic organic matter, aquatic and soil humic substances from Brazilian were determined using a new versatile approach based on a single-stage tangential-flow ultrafiltration (TF-UF) technique (cut-off 1 kDa) and sensitive atomic spectrometry methods. The results regarding the copper(II) complexation capacity and conditional stability constants obtained for humic materials were compared with those obtained using direct potentiometry with a copper-ion-selective electrode. The analytical procedure based on ultrafiltration is a good alternative to determine the complexation parameters in natural organic material from aquatic and soil systems. This approach presents additional advantages such as better sensibility, applicability for multi-element capability, and its possible to be used under natural conditions when compared with the traditional ion-selective electrode.

Solid-state chelates of ethylenediamine-tetraacetate with alkali earth metals

Solid-state M-EDTA chelates, where M represents the divalent ions Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II) or Ba(II) and EDTA is ethylenediaminetetraacetate anion, were synthesized. Thermogravimetry, derivative thermogravimetry (TG, DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction powder patterns have been used to characterize and to study the thermal behaviour of these chelates. The results provided information concerning the stoichiometry, crystallinity, thermal stability and thermal decomposition.

LATTICE-DYNAMICS OF ALKALI-METALS IN A 3-BODY INTERACTION

The original model of Das et al. is modified in extending the electron-ion interaction on a three-body forces and including the crystal equilibrium condition to reduce one independent parameter. We studied the phonon dispersion relations along the three principal symmetry directions i.e. [xi, 0, 0], [xi, xi, 0] and [xi, xi, xi] and theta-T curves of alkali metals, Na, K, Rb, Cs and Li. There is close agreement between the computed results and the experimental observations.

Aquatic humus from an unpolluted Brazilian dark-brown stream: general characterization and size fractionation of bound heavy metals

The main pool of dissolved organic carbon in tropical aquatic environments, notably in dark-coloured streams, is concentrated in humic substances (HS). Aquatic HS are large organic molecules formed by micro-biotic degradation of biopolymers and polymerization of smaller organic molecules. From an environmental point of view, the study of metal-humic interactions is often aimed at predicting the effect of aquatic HS on the bioavailability of heavy metal ions in the environment. In the present work the aquatic humic substances (HS) isolated from a dark-brown stream (located in an environmental protection area near Cubatao city in São Paulo-State, Brazil) by means of the collector XAD-8 were investigated. FTIR studies showed that the carboxylic carbons are probably the most important binding sites for Hg(II) ions within humic molecules. C-13-NMR and H-1-NMR studies of aquatic HS showed the presence of constituents with a high degree of aromaticity (40% of carbons) and small substitution. A special five-stage tangential-flow ultrafiltration device (UF) was used for size fractionation of the aquatic HS under study and for their metal species in the molecular size range 1-100 kDa (six fractions). The fractionation patterns showed that metal traces remaining in aquatic HS after their XAD-8 isolation have different distributions. Generally, the major percentage of traces of Mn, Cd and Ni (determined by ICP-AES) was preferably complexed by molecules with relatively high molecular size. Cu was bound by fractions with low molecular size and Co showed no preferential binding site in the various humic fractions. Moreover, the species formed between aquatic HS and Hg(II), prepared by spiking (determined by CVAAS), appeared to be concentrated in the relatively high molecular size fraction F-1 (> 100 kDa).

An evaluation into the potential of biological processing for the removal of metals from sewage sludges

The use of sewage sludge in agricultural land as a means of sludge disposal and recycling has been shown to be economical and suitable because of the presence of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. However, municipal sludges often contain high quantities of toxic metals and other compounds that must be removed for its safe use in agricultural soils. The biological leaching of metals from sewage sludges has been shown to be a promising technique for metal detoxifying in such complex matrix. The process efficiency is dependent on several physico-chemical parameters, such as total solids concentration, metal forms, pH-ORP, and temperature. Scale-up of the process has not yet been defined and is still pursuing the correct operational design. Current research involving the bioleaching of metals from sewage sludge and its application to land, which affects soil physical properties, are presented and discussed.

Study of the alkaline earth metals with 8-hydroxyquinolinate derivatives - Calcium complexes

Metal complexes of calcium with 5,7-dibromo, 7-iodo and 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinolate were precipitated in aqueous ammonia and acetone medium, except for the solid state compound with 5,7-dichloro-8-hydroxyquinoline which hasn't been obtained under these conditions. The complexes obtained through the mentioned precipitation are Ca[(C9H4ONBr2)(2)](3).H2O, Ca[(C9H5ONI)(2)].2H(2)O and Ca[(C9H4ONICl)(2)].2.5H(2)O. Their intermediate from the thermal decomposition found through TG/DTA curves in air indicated the presence of different kinds of calcium carbonates related to the reversibility and crystalline structure, depending on the original compounds. The initial compounds and the intermediate from the thermal decomposition were also characterized through IR spectra and X-ray diffraction.

Solid-state reactions of mercury with pure noble metals - Part 2. Mercury-iridium system

Thermogravimetry, cyclic voltammetry and other analytical techniques were used to study the reactions of mercury with pure iridium. The results allowed to suggest when subjected to heat or anodic stripping voltammetry an electrodeposited mercury film reacts with Ir substrate and at least three mass loss steps and three peaks appear in the mercury desorption process. The first two were attributed to Hg(0) species removal like a mercury bulk and a mercury monolayer. The last can be ascribed to the mercury removal from a solid solution with iridium.

Synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of solid 2-methoxybenzoates of trivalent metals

Solid-state Ln(L)(3) compounds, where Ln stands for trivalent Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y and L is 2-methoxybenzoate have been synthesized. Simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and complexometry were used to characterize and to study the thermal behaviour of these compounds. The results provided information on the composition, dehydration, coordination mode, structure, thermal behaviour and thermal decomposition.

Distribution of refractory and volatile elements in CoRoT exoplanet host stars

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole clay as matrix for sorption and preconcentration of some heavy metals from aqueous solution

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole loaded on previously polystyrene treated clay was prepared, characterized and used for sorption and preconcentration of Hg(II) Pb(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) from an aqueous solution. The support used was a natural clay previously treated with sulphuric acid solution. Adsorptiou isotherms of metal ions from aqueous solutions as function of pH were studied at 298 K. Conditions for quantitative retention and elution were established for each metal by batch and column methods. The chemically treated clay was very selective to Hg(II) in solution in which Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and some transition metal ions were also present.