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This study explores the possibility of utilizing bioleaching techniques for nickel extraction from a mixed sulfide ore deposit with high magnesium content. Due to the ultramafic nature of this material, well-studied bioleaching technologies, which rely on acidophilic bacteria, will lead to undesirable processing conditions. This is the first work that incorporates nitrate-dependent bacteria under pH 6.5 environments for bioleaching of base metals. Experiments with both defined bacterial strains and indigenous mixed bacterial cultures were conducted with nitrate as the electron acceptor and sulfide minerals as electron donors in a series of microcosm studies. Nitrate consumption, sulfate production, and Ni released into the aqueous phase were used to track the extent of oxidative sulfide mineral dissolution; taxonomic identification of the mixed culture community was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Nitrate-dependent microcosms that contained indigenous sulfur- and/or iron-oxidizing microorganisms were cultured, characterized, and provided a proof-of-concept basis for further bioleaching studies.

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) from the external surface of a buried pipeline is a serious matter and can cause significant economic and environmental losses. Despite of many research works which have been done on the understanding of crack initiation and propagation mechanisms, these mechanisms are still being debated. This research studied the crack growth behaviour of different pipeline steels including two types of X65, one X52 and one X80 pipeline steels in near-neutral pH environments. Crack growth behaviour of all steels has been found to be consistent with that of true corrosion fatigue. Crack growth rates were correlated with (K)2Kmax/f0.1. It was revealed that cracking behaviour of pipeline steels in near neutral pH environments is material dependent. Highest crack growth rate was seen in the steel which highest amount of hydrogen atoms could be generated and stored in its microstructure to contribute in cracking procedure due to hydrogen embrittlement effect. / Materials Engineering

Melanoidin, a high molecular-weight heterogeneous pollutant in the effluents of molasses-using industries, poses a significant threat to the environment due to its non-biodegradability, unpleasant odour, and harmful effect. Various advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) are used for the degradation of melanoidins. Heterogeneous photo-Fenton process has emerged as a promising alternative approach in wastewater treatment owing to its enhanced catalytic activity, lower hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) consumption, and reusability of the catalyst. In this work, we investigated the photo-Fenton oxidation of melanoidins using heterogeneous catalyst ZnO@SnOx@nZVI supported on a flexible substrate. The effects of reaction pH, amount of catalyst and H2O2 on color and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, as well as the removal kinetics, were studied. It is found that the developed heterogeneous catalyst can lead to 97.3% decolorization of melanoidin (7000 COD) after 4 hours irradiation of simulated sunlight at pH 6 with a much lower dosage of H2O2 than the stoichiometric ratio with respect to COD. The generation of ·OH free radicals and residual H2O2 were monitored to understand the mechanism of melanoidin degradation at near-neutral pH with insufficient H2O2. The findings of this work have significant implications in treatment of non-biodegradable organic pollutants, owing to the advantages in avoiding low pH treatment condition, reducing the cost of H2O2, and enhanced chemical stability of photo-Fenton catalyst. / Melanoidin, en heterogen förorening med hög molekylvikt i avloppsvatten från industrier som använder melass, utgör ett betydande hot mot miljön på grund av dess icke-biologiska nedbrytbarhet, obehagliga lukt och skadliga effekt. Olika avancerade oxidationsprocesser (AOP) som producerar reaktiva syreföreningar (ROS) används för nedbrytning av melanoidiner. Heterogen foto-Fenton-process har framstått som ett lovande alternativ för avloppsrening på grund av dess förbättrade katalytiska aktivitet, lägre väteperoxid (H2O2) förbrukning och återanvändbarhet av katalysatorn. I detta arbete undersökte vi foto-Fenton-oxidationen av melanoidiner med hjälp av heterogen katalysator ZnO@SnOx@nZVI som stöds på ett flexibelt substrat. Effekterna av reaktionens pH, mängden katalysator och H2O2 på färg och avlägsnande av kemisk syreförbrukning (COD), liksom avlägsnandets kinetik, studerades. Det visade sig att den utvecklade heterogena katalysatorn kan leda till 97,3% avfärgning av melanoidin (7000 COD) efter 4 timmars bestrålning av simulerat solljus vid pH 6 med en mycket lågre dosering av H2O2 än det stökiometriska förhållandet med avseende på COD. Generering av ·OH fria radikaler och kvarvarande H2O2 övervakades för att förstå mekanismen för nedbrytning av melanoidin vid nära neutralt pH med otillräcklig H2O2. Resultaten av detta arbete har betydande konsekvenser vid behandling av icke- biologiskt nedbrytbara organiska föroreningar, på grund av fördelarna med att undvika behandlingsförhållanden med lågt pH, minska kostnaden för H2O2 och förbättrad kemiska stabilitet hos foto-Fenton-katalysatorn.