Roles of adhered Paenibacillus polymyxa in the dissolution and flotation of bauxite: a dialytic investigation

Bio-related techniques have been proved to be efficient and specific in eliminating impure minerals such as goethite, hematite and kaolinite from aluminum hydroxides in bauxite processing. In this study, the bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa (P. polymyxa) mediated dissolution and flotation of bauxite were experimentally investigated. To disclose the contribution of adhered bacteria to these two processes, comparative experiments were designed, with one (and the other not) being dialyzed to prevent cells from contacting with bauxite. The results show that all the release rates of Al, Fe and Si are accelerated by the involvement of bacteria during 11 experimental days. More Al, Si and especially Fe are leached out in contact trial than in dialysis trial, and simultaneously, a large amount of Si-enriched flocs are formed. Further analysis indicates that with the adhesion of P. polymyxa and high molecular weight metabolites, Fe minerals are much more dissolvable than kaolinite. However, kaolinite can be floated easily with the mediation of adhered bacteria and metabolites. This study suggests that in bauxite biobeneficiation, sufficient contact between microbes and bauxite can facilitate the elimination of impurities such as iron and silicon.