A cyanobacterial system for consolidation of phosphate slimes |
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| Authors: | John F. Leslie Randolph L. Greasham Matthew H. Hulbert |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Corporate Research and Development Center , International Minerals and Chemical Corporation , Terre Haute, Indiana, 47808;2. Department of Plant Pathology , Kansas State University , Manhattan, Kansas, 66506;3. Department of Biochemical Engineering , Merck and Company, Inc. , P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey, 07065 |
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| Abstract: | Dilute aqueous suspensions of finely divided mineral waste from phosphate ore beneficiation were allowed to consolidate in the presence of either Anacystis nidulans or Anabaena cylindrica. Addition to this mineral suspension of 2.2 mg (dry weight) of fresh A. nidulans per milliliter of suspension resulted in solids consolidation that exceeded the untreated control by 65% after 11 days. When fresh A. cylindrica was mixed with the slimes suspension, no enhancement of consolidation occurred. Addition of either 1 mgof dry A. nidulans or 1 mg of dry A. cylindrica per milliliter of suspension resulted in consolidation that exceeded the untreated control by 25% after 9 days. Direct addition of A. nidulans to the process water of facilities relying on gravitational dewatering of such mineral suspensions could reduce the residence time in the initial settling ponds. Whether such a process would affect long‐term settling is unknown. |
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