Taguchi Yaklaşımı ile Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans Kullanılarak Oksitlenmiş Çinko Cevherinin Biyoliçi

Öz

Çinko, galvanizleme, boya, kozmetik, pil ve gübre gibi çeşitli endüstrilerde yaygın olarak kullanılan aktif ve elektropozitif bir metaldir. Başlıca çinko içeren mineral olan sfalerit (ZnS), sülfürlü cevherlerin işlenmesi sırasında oluşan kükürt emisyonlarına bağlı çevresel kaygılar nedeniyle, alternatif çinko kaynaklarına olan ilgi son yıllarda artmıştır. Smithsonit, willemit ve hemimorfit gibi ikincil çinko mineralleri bu bağlamda dikkat çekmektedir. Yaklaşık %52 Zn içeriğine sahip smithsonit, genellikle flotasyon ve liç yöntemleriyle işlenmektedir. Ancak, bu geleneksel yöntemler çevresel risk oluşturan tehlikeli atıklar üretmektedir. Bu nedenle, sürdürülebilir bir alternatif olarak biyoliç, çevre dostu bir yaklaşım olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye'nin Adana-Kozan ilçesine bağlı Horzum bölgesinden temin edilen smithsonit cevheri örneğinin Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans bakterisi kullanılarak biyoliçi araştırılmıştır. Deneyler, katı oranı (%10, %15 ve %20) ile liç süresinin (6, 12 ve 18 gün) çinko kazanımı üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmek amacıyla Taguchi L9 ortogonal dizaynına göre planlanmıştır. Testler, 100 mL’lik biyoreaktörlerde; 75 µm tane boyutu, 25–30 °C sıcaklık ve 180 rpm karıştırma hızı gibi kontrollü koşullarda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Liç süresince pH, redoks potansiyeli (mV) ve bakteri hücre yoğunluğu 6 günlük aralıklarla izlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, karbonatlı çinko cevherlerinin çevresel etkileri en aza indirecek şekilde işlenmesine yönelik sürdürülebilir yöntemlerin geliştirilmesine katkı sağlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Oksitli Çinko
• Biyoliç
• Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans

Bioleaching of Oxidized Zinc Ore Using Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans with Taguchi Approach

Abstract

Zinc is an active and electropositive metal extensively used in various industries, including galvanizing, paint, cosmetics, batteries, and fertilizers. While sphalerite (ZnS) is the primary zinc-bearing mineral, the environmental concerns associated with sulfur emissions during sulfide ore processing have led to increased interest in alternative zinc sources. Secondary zinc minerals such as smithsonite, willemite, and hemimorphite have gained attention in recent years. Among them, smithsonite, containing approximately 52% Zn, is typically processed using flotation and leaching techniques. However, these methods generate hazardous wastes that pose environmental risks. As a sustainable alternative, bioleaching has emerged as an eco-friendly approach. In this study, bioleaching of a smithsonite ore sample obtained from the Horzum region (Adana-Kozan, Türkiye) was investigated using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Experiments were designed according to the Taguchi L9 orthogonal array to evaluate the effects of solid concentration (10%, 15%, and 20%) and leaching duration (6, 12, and 18 days) on zinc recovery. The tests were conducted in 100 mL bioreactors under controlled conditions: particle size of 75 µm, temperature of 25–30 °C, and agitation speed of 180 rpm. During the leaching process, pH, redox potential (mV), and bacterial cell density were monitored at 6-day intervals. The findings contribute to the development of sustainable methods for processing carbonate zinc ores while minimizing environmental impact.

Keywords

• Bioleaching
• Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans
• Oxidized Zinc

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