Saline-water bioleaching of chalcopyrite with thermophilic, iron(II)- and sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms

Helen R Watling; David M Collinson; Melissa K Corbett; Denis W Shiers; Anna H Kaksonen; Elizabeth L J Watkin

doi:10.1016/j.resmic.2016.05.003

Saline-water bioleaching of chalcopyrite with thermophilic, iron(II)- and sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms

Res Microbiol. 2016 Sep;167(7):546-54. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.05.003. Epub 2016 May 20.

Authors

Helen R Watling¹, David M Collinson², Melissa K Corbett³, Denis W Shiers⁴, Anna H Kaksonen⁵, Elizabeth L J Watkin⁶

Affiliations

¹ CSIRO Mineral Resources, PO Box 7229, Karawara, WA 6152, Australia. Electronic address: Helen.Watling@csiro.au.
² CSIRO Mineral Resources, PO Box 7229, Karawara, WA 6152, Australia. Electronic address: David.Collinson@csiro.au.
³ School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA 6102, Australia. Electronic address: Melissa.Corbett@curtin.edu.au.
⁴ CSIRO Mineral Resources, PO Box 7229, Karawara, WA 6152, Australia. Electronic address: Denis.Shiers@csiro.au.
⁵ CSIRO Land and Water, 147 Underwood Avenue, Floreat, WA 6014, Australia. Electronic address: Anna.Kaksonen@csiro.au.
⁶ School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA 6102, Australia. Electronic address: E.Watkin@curtin.edu.au.

PMID: 27212381
DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.05.003

Abstract

The application of thermoacidophiles for chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) bioleaching in hot, acidic, saline solution was investigated as a possible process route for rapid Cu extraction. The study comprised a discussion of protective mechanisms employed for the survival and/or adaptation of thermoacidophiles to osmotic stress, a compilation of chloride tolerances for three genera of thermoacidophiles applied in bioleaching and an experimental study of the activities of three species in a saline bioleaching system. The data showed that the oxidation rates of iron(II) and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (tetrathionate) were reduced in the presence of chloride levels well below chloride concentrations in seawater, limiting the applicability of these microorganisms in the bioleaching of CuFeS2 in saline water.

Keywords: Acidianus; Metallosphaera; Osmotic stress; Sulfolobus; Thermoacidophiles.

MeSH terms

Copper / metabolism*
Environmental Microbiology*
Ferrous Compounds / metabolism*
Mining / methods*
Oxidation-Reduction
Saline Waters / metabolism*
Sulfur / metabolism*

Substances

Ferrous Compounds
chalcopyrite
Sulfur
Copper