Copper metallurgical slags: mineralogy, bio/weathering processes and metal bioleaching

6.3  RESULTS 
6.3.1  Bacterial growth 
A comparison of bacterial growth rates within 14 days demonstrated that bacterial growth was 
limited in the control slag-free growth medium (OD
600
: 0.03), whereas a significant growth of 
bacteria was observed in the solution supplemented with slags (OD
600
: up to 0.3) (Figure 6.1). 
The transfer of slags to fresh growth medium every 14 days enabled a renewal of the bacterial 
growth  cycle  and  cells  revealed  a  highly  comparable  growth  pattern.  After  one  week  of 
experiment, biofilm formation was observed in biotic experiments with slags (Figure 6.1). 
 
 
FIGURE 6.1 Evolution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth in the experiments supplemented