Biodiversity and interactions of acidophiles: Key to understanding and optimizing microbial processing of ores and concentrates

被引:63
作者
Johnson, D. B. [1 ]
机构
[1] Bangor Univ, Sch Biol Sci, Bangor LL57 2UW, Gwynedd, Wales
关键词
acidophiles; biomining; consortia;
D O I
10.1016/S1003-6326(09)60010-8
中图分类号
TF [冶金工业];
学科分类号
0806 ;
摘要
Mining companies have become increasingly aware of the potential of microbiological approaches for recovering base and precious metals from low-grade ores, and for remediating acidic, metal-rich wastewaters that drain from both operating and abandoned mine sites. Biological systems offer a number of environmental and (sometimes) economical advantages over conventional approaches, such as pyrometallurgy, though their application is not appropriate in every situation. Mineral processing using micro-organisms has been exploited for extracting gold, copper, uranium and cobalt, and current developments are targeting other base metals. Recently, there has been a great increase in our knowledge and understanding of both the diversity of the microbiology of biomining environments, and of how the microorganisms interact with each other. The results from laboratory experiments which have simulated both stirred tank and heap bioreactor systems have shown that microbial consortia are more robust than pure cultures of mineral-oxidizing acidophiles, and also tend to be more effective at bioleaching and bio-oxidizing ores and concentrates. The paper presented a concise review of the nature and interactions of microbial consortia that arc involved in the oxidation of sulfide minerals, and how these might be adapted to meet future challenges in biomining operations.
引用
收藏
页码:1367 / 1373
页数:7
相关论文
共 20 条
[11]   MICROBIOLOGICAL SOLUBILIZATION OF METALS FROM COMPLEX SULFIDE ORE MATERIAL IN AERATED COLUMN REACTORS [J].
PUHAKKA, J ;
TUOVINEN, OH .
ACTA BIOTECHNOLOGICA, 1986, 6 (03) :233-238
[12]  
Puhakka J. A., 2007, BIOMINING, DOI 10.1007/978-3-540-34911-2_7
[13]   Reasons why 'Leptospirillum'-like species rather than Thiobacillus ferrooxidans are the dominant iron-oxidizing bacteria in many commercial processes for the biooxidation of pyrite and related ores [J].
Rawlings, DE ;
Tributsch, H ;
Hansford, GS .
MICROBIOLOGY-UK, 1999, 145 :5-13
[14]   Heavy metal mining using microbes [J].
Rawlings, DE .
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MICROBIOLOGY, 2002, 56 :65-91
[15]  
Rawlings DE., 2007, BIOMINING
[16]   The microbiology of biomining: development and optimization of mineral-oxidizing microbial consortia [J].
Rawlings, Douglas E. ;
Johnson, D. Barrie .
MICROBIOLOGY-SGM, 2007, 153 :315-324
[17]  
SCHIPPERS A, 2007, MICR PROC MET SULF, P3
[18]   Microbiological and Geochemical Dynamics in Simulated-Heap Leaching of a Polymetallic Sulfide Ore [J].
Wakeman, Kathryn ;
Auvinen, Hannele ;
Johnson, D. Barrie .
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING, 2008, 101 (04) :739-750
[19]   The bioleaching of sulphide minerals with emphasis on copper sulphides - A review [J].
Watling, H. R. .
HYDROMETALLURGY, 2006, 84 (1-2) :81-108
[20]   Bioleaching of pyrite at low pH and low redox potentials by novel mesophilic Gram-positive bacteria [J].
Yahya, A ;
Johnson, DB .
HYDROMETALLURGY, 2002, 63 (02) :181-188