Biochemistry of sulfur extraction in bio-corrosion of pyrite by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

By adding a small amount of the amino acid cysteine to an acidic solution containing Thiobacillus ferroxidans cells and subsequent incubation with synthetic pyrite layers, the duration of the lag phase in the growth of T. ferrooxidans is minimized and the leaching rate of this sulfide is increased three times compared to the normal process without this biochemical additive. In the presence of cysteine, pyrite can be oxidized in the absence of...