Influence of Phanerochaete chrysosporium on degradation and preg-robbing capacity of activated carbon

The effect of Phanerochaete chrysosporium on degradation and preg-robbing capacity of activated carbon, which was used as a substitute of carbonaceous matter in carbonaceous gold ores, was studied. After 14 d treatment with Phanerochaete chrysosporium, the degradation rate of activated carbon reached 27.59%. The XRD and FTIR analyses indicate that Phanerochaete chrysosporium can distort the micro-crystalline structure of activated carbon, increase the number of oxygen-containing groups and aliphatics and make the aromatic structures be oxidized and exfoliated. The gold-adsorption tests show that Phanerochaete chrysosporium can reduce the preg-robbing capacity of activated carbon by 12.88%. This indicates that Phanerochaete chrysosporium is an available microorganism, and it can be employed to reduce the preg-robbing capacity of carbonaceous matter and improve the gold leaching rate. The combined effect of passivation, alkalization and oxidation of biological enzymes-free radicals of Phanerochaete chrysosporium on carbonaceous matter was also discussed.