Institute of Industrial Ecology Problems of the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (INEP KSC RAS)

G. A. Evdokimova, Deputy Director of Scientific Work Professor, e-mail: galina@inep.ksc.ru
N. P. Mozgova, Senior Researcher
N. F. Fokina, Researcher

Mining Institute of the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

A. Sh. Gershenkop, Professor

The nepheline being non-persistent for acid leaching, amounts more than a half of all concentration wastes of “Apatit” JSC concentration plants processing apatite-nepheline ores. The most comprehensive and efficient instrument of the natural biogenic destruction of minerals including nepheline and kyanite is indirect effect of microorganisms on the minerals by metabolic products such as mineral and organic acids. The aim of the investigation is a laboratory experiment study of the Al-containing minerals destruction based on example of nepheline and kyanite under the impact of acid-forming microorganisms like bacteria Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and fungi Aspergillus niger. The experiment with nepheline and fungi in the acidic media indicated that Al₂O₃ quantity was ten times higher than in alkaline media: 766 mg/l and 10.9 mg/l correspondingly; during control without fungi Al₂O₃ quantity was less by 1 mg/l. In the experiment with kyanite Al₂O₃ quantity increased 16 times during 12 days in the media with bacteria, SiO₂ quantity was 7 times higher compared to control variant without bacteria. Biogenous transformation of Al-containing industrial wastes occurs in the nature but it is less intensive. As a result of biogeneous leaching valuable elements are lost in the waste storage in the tailing impoundments and they can contaminate the environment.

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