Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of velocity and concentration profiles in the vicinity of immobilized Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cells

Computational fluid dynamics simulation was used to estimate the flow and ferric iron concentration profiles around a single cell or pairs of cells of A. ferrooxidans, immobilized on the surface of a sulfide crystal. It has been shown that there are significant concentration gradients of ferric iron concentration between the surface of the crystal and the liquid bulk. The difference between the bulk and surface ferric ions concentrations can reach several hundred mg/L. These results can explain the difference between the chemical and biological oxidation rates of metal sulfides in liquid media containing iron ions.