Bioleaching of copper sulfides using mixed microorganisms and its community structure succession in the presence of seawater

Wei Chen; Shenghua Yin; Aixiang Wu; Leiming Wang; Xun Chen

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122453

Bioleaching of copper sulfides using mixed microorganisms and its community structure succession in the presence of seawater

Bioresour Technol. 2020 Feb:297:122453. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122453. Epub 2019 Nov 21.

Authors

Wei Chen¹, Shenghua Yin², Aixiang Wu¹, Leiming Wang³, Xun Chen³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for High-Efficient Mining and Safety of Metal, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
² Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for High-Efficient Mining and Safety of Metal, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: ustbcysh@126.com.
³ School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.

PMID: 31787510
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122453

Abstract

The bacterial diversity and dynamics in the leaching solution were analyzed during bioleaching of low-grade copper sulfide ore in the presence of seawater in this study. The results indicated a promoting response of appropriate-proportion seawater to bioleaching with improved copper recoveries. A maximum of 84.70% copper recovery was obtained in the presence of 20.00% seawater in contrast to only 72.49% in its absence. The experiments verified that seawater owned a great influence on Attached bacteria and bacterial species. 16S rDNA analysis illustrated that bacterial species decreased distinctly in the presence of seawater. Little difference between blank sample (no seawater) and sample adding 20.00% seawater was indicated by beta diversity index. Bacteria (including Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Sphingomonas leidyi and Lactobacillus acetotolerans) were influenced significantly after adding seawater. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans accounted for the highest proportion of the community whether seawater was added or not during bioleaching.

Keywords: Attached bacteria; Bacteria diversity and dynamics; Bioleaching; Low-grade copper sulfide ore; Seawater.

MeSH terms

Acidithiobacillus*
Bacteria
Copper
Seawater
Sulfides*

Substances

Sulfides
Copper