Reductive dissolution of arsenical ferrihydrite by bacteria

Mining and metallurgical processing of gold and base metal ores can lead to the release of arsenic into the aqueous environment as a result of the weathering and leaching of As-bearing minerals during processing and following disposal. Arsenic in process solutions and mine drainage can be effectively stabilized through the precipitation of ferrihydrite. However, under anaerobic conditions imposed by burial and waste cover systems, ferrihydrite is susceptible to microbial reduction. This research, stimulated by the paucity of information and limited understanding of the microbial reduction of arsenical ferrihydrite, was conducted on synthetic adsorbed and co-precipitated arsenical 6-line ferrihydrite (Fe/As molar ratio of 10/1) using Shewanella sp. ANA-3 and Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 in a chemically defined medium containing 0.045 mM phosphate concentration. Both bacteria were equally effective in their reducing abilities around pH 7, resulting in initial rates of formation of dissolved As(III) of 0.10 μM/h for the adsorbed, and 0.08 μM/h for the co-precipitated arsenical 6-line ferrihydrite samples. The solid phases in the post-reduction samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron microprobe and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques. The results indicate the formation of secondary phases such as a biogenic Fe(II)-As(III) compound, akaganeite, goethite, hematite and possibly magnetite during bacterial reduction experiments. Holes and bacterial imprints measuring about 1-2 μm were observed on the surfaces of the secondary phases formed after 1200 h of reduction. This study demonstrates the influence of Fe and As reducing bacteria on the release of significant concentrations of more mobile and toxic As(III) species from arsenical 6-line ferrihydrite, more readily from the adsorbed than from the co-precipitated ferrihydrite.