Recovery of metal components from sulfide mineral tailings by microbial fuel cell

A method for recovering metal iron from sulfide mineral tailings, comprising adding said sulfide mineral tailings to a Double-chambered Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) and producing free iron with a high recovering rate, wherein said Double-chambered Microbial Fuel Cell comprises a cathode and an anode chamber separated by a proton exchange membrane, and electrodes in said anode and said cathode chambers connected through an external circuit;

• wherein said anode chamber contains said sulfide mineral tailings, an electrode and an electricigens culture comprising Sulfur-Oxidizing bacteria and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans;
• wherein initial pH of said anode chamber is 1.5˜2.5 and anaerobic condition is maintained in said anode chamber;
• wherein said cathode chamber contains a phosphate buffer, an electrode and an aerator;
• and wherein the reaction in said Double-chambered MFC is depicted with equations below:
• FeS+6Fe3++0.5O2+3H2O→7Fe2++SO42−+6H+
• anode:
• FeS+6Fe3++4H2O →7Fe2++8H++SO42−+2e−
• cathode:
• 2.25O2+9H++9e−→4.5H2O
• or
• FeS+2O2→Fe2++SO42−
• anode:
• FeS+4H2O →Fe2++SO42−+8H++8e−
• cathode:
• 2O2 +8H++8e−→4H2O