İzmir iç körfezinde bulunan ağır metallerin biyolojik sızdırma yöntemiyle giderilmesi

In recent years, heavy metals pollution in aquatic sediments has gained great importance through environmental concerns. The presented study aims to point out the current heavy metal pollution in the sediments of Izmir inner Bay followed by the remediation of metal contaminated sediments with bioleaching method.In the first part of the study, sediment samples collected from 7 points in Izmir inner Bay are characterized by means of their bulk selected metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) concentrations and the chemical distributions of these metals according to their binding fractions are determined. Total metal contents of the sediments are determined by using microwave acid digestion and the BCR Sequential Extraction Scheme is used for determination of metals bound as four fractions: exchangeable, reducible, oxidizable, and residual.In the second part, bioleaching experiments are conducted in flasks by using the sediment samples. Two major Thiobacilli strains (Thiobacillus ferrooxidans & Thiobacillus thiooxidans) are used for bioleaching and the effects of bacteria type, solid/liquid ratio, sulfur addition rate (as substrate), and the sediment particle size are studied. The changes in chemical distribution of the heavy metals after bioleaching are also observed and reported.The characterization studies point out that there is high pollution of heavy metals in the sediments of Izmir inner Bay and the binding forms of metals are different from each other. Bioleaching experiments lasted for 48 days under 300C. The use of T. thiooxidans, optimum solid content, optimum sulfur addition, and fine particles perform satisfactory results for heavy metals removal.