A model for heap bioleaching of chalcocite with heat balance: Mesophiles and moderate thermophiles

The interaction of mesophiles and moderate thermophiles (MT) in a 3-phase computational fluid dynamics model for heap bioleaching of chalcocite is investigated. The model assumes that both bacterial types undergo the same death, attachment and detachment processes, with different growth rate temperature dependency. The model allows an investigation of how the bacterial types vary in space and time as the conditions (such as the temperature) in the heap change. The model results are compared to the case with a single bacterial type (mesophiles) from previous work, showing that the bottom-up and top-down leaching fronts which develop in that case are also present here. The bottom-up leaching front is found to move faster than in the case with only mesophiles, and the leaching front from the top-down is slower here. Both these effects are due to the high temperature gradient in the heap (due to MT), and higher associated evaporation and condensation (and associated release or consumption of latent heat) across the respective leaching fronts. The addition of MT allows a longer period before overheating occurs, so that there is more leaching in the initial stage. The ambient temperature and inoculation method were varied to show the impact on leaching.     

Purification and characterization of extracellular chitinase from a novel strain Aspergillus fumigatus CS-01

Twelve samples derived from different locations in south central area of China are treated by enrichment and spread-plate technique for initial screening. Seven chitinase-producing strains are isolated. The chitinase present in the culture supernatant of strain CS-01 possesses the maximum activity of 0.118 U/mL. Analysis of the morphological feature and the ITS rDNA sequence reveals that strain CS-01 belongs to Aspergillus fumigatus. Production of the chitinase is regulated by a inducible way and the maximum activity appears at 36 h in colloidal chitin culture. Purification of the chitinase is carried out by salting out, gel filtrate chromatography and anion exchange chromatography sequentially. Native-PAGE and SDS-PAGE indicate that the chitinase from A. fumigatus CS-01 is a monomer with the relative molecular mass estimated to be 4.50×10⁴. Its maximum activity appears at pH 5 and 55 °C. The chitinase is stable at pH 4.0–7.5 and below 45 °C. Foundation item: Projects(50621063, 50674101) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Identification and fermentation optimization of protopectinase-overproducing strain Aspergillus niger CD-01 for pectin production

In order to solve the citrus peel resource waste problem and minimize the drawbacks of chemical extraction of pectin, a protopectinase-overproducing strain CD-01 for pectin production was isolated from a pit soil dumped with perished orange in Changde City, Hunan Province of China. The strain CD-01 had the same morphology and 28S rRNA gene sequence (FJ184995) as that of Aspergillus niger (ATCC 64028). It was thus identified and named as Aspergillus niger CD-01. The fermentation condition was optimized based on L₉(3⁴) orthogonal experimental design and the variances analyses. The results show that the optimal condition for producing pectin is as follows: time 36 h, temperature 35 °C, pH 5, and urea as the nitrogen source. Under this condition, the pectin yield can reach up to 24.5%. This shows a great potential of Aspergillus niger CD-01 in pectin extraction from citrus. Foundation item: Projects(50621063, 50674101) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Simultaneous oxidation and immobilization of arsenite from refinery waste water by thermoacidophilic iron-oxidizing archaeon,Acidianus brierleyi

The use of a thermophilic acidophilic iron-oxidizing archaeon, Acidianus brierleyi, was investigated for oxidation and immobilization of As(III) from acidic refinery waste water. Some As(III) oxidation was measured in all Ac. brierleyi cultures independently of the presence or concentration of Fe(II) in bulk solution; the exception was at initial Fe(II) concentration ([Fe(II)]_ini) of 1000 mg l⁻¹ where As(III) oxidation became markedly facilitated and consequently approximately 70% of As was immobilized as amorphous ferric arsenate. Providing 1000 mg l⁻¹ Fe(III) instead of Fe(II) did not show the same effect, implying the importance of Fe(III) be microbially-produced and complexed in the archaeal EPS (extracellular polymeric substances) region for effective As(III) oxidation. The reaction towards secondary mineral formation shifted from ferric arsenate to jarosite at [Fe(II)]_ini of >1000 mg l⁻¹. Furthermore addition of jarosite seed crystals retarded the As(III) oxidation rate at [Fe(II)]_ini of 1000 mg l⁻¹. The observations indicate that by setting the appropriate bulk Fe(II)/As(III) ratio in Ac. brierleyi culture to achieve a certain concentration of Fe(III) within the EPS region, but at the same time to avoid jarosite formation, it is possible to maximize the As(III) oxidation rate and thus As immobilization efficiency. This study describes for the first time microbially-mediated simultaneous oxidation and immobilization of As(III) as ferric arsenate, using a thermoacidophilic iron-oxidizing archaeon, Ac. brierleyi.     

Response of soil fungal community to long-term chromium contamination

To further study the fungal community in heavy metal contaminated ecosystems, soil samples were collected from an abandoned chromium (Cr) factory, and fungal community was analyzed by Illumina sequencing of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) amplicons. The results showed that Cr contamination changed the composition and structure of soil fungal community, but didn't change the diversity. Fungus showed various responses to Cr contamination. LEfSe analysis revealed that the biomarker changed a lot in the Cr-contaminated samples in comparison with that in the control samples. The changes in fungal community may be caused by the direct toxic effects on fungi by high concentration of Cr and the significant change in soil properties resulting from Cr contamination. Among all the Cr fractions, organic matter-bound Cr and exchangeable Cr showed significant effects on the fungal community and organic matter also showed a significant effect on soil fungal community.     

Electrochemical study of enargite bioleaching by mesophilic and thermophilic microorganisms

The bioleaching effects of two microorganisms on two different enargite (Cu₃AsS₄) minerals have been followed by solution titration and rest potential measurements and studied by cyclic voltammetry. The investigation focused on the superficial modifications produced in the minerals by the activity of the mesophilic bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans at 35 °C and the thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus sp. at 68 °C after 3 and 12 days of attack, comparing the modified surfaces with that of untreated samples. The electrochemical characterization of all the electrodes was done by means of potentiometric assays performed under the same conditions: acidulated deionized water as electrolyte (pH 2.0), and temperature of 26 ± 2 °C. Additionally, a comparative SEM and EDX study of untreated and biotreated samples was carried out.     

Visualisation of pyrite leaching by selected thermophilic archaea: Nature of microorganism–ore interactions during bioleaching

In this study, pyrite (FeS₂) was leached by Acidianus brierleyi, Metallosphaera sedula and Sulfolobus metallicus during a 60 day experimental period. Leaching occurred over a redox potential range of 800 to 860 mV (S.H.E.) and in the presence of increasing Fe³⁺ levels. A modified ferrozine assay was developed to detect the increase of iron in solution as bioleaching of the ore progressed. For the first time, the interactions of these extreme thermophiles with the metal sulfide ore particles were extensively documented using SEM and TEM. As the pyrite degraded, there appeared to be a progression of deposited structures forming, ranging from sub-micron precipitates and disc-shaped structures on the ore's surface, which ultimately were similar for all leaching cultures. Furthermore, the residues resulting from the leaching of pyrite by M. sedula, the most active thermophile, were characterised using SEM/EDX, and appeared to be dominated by iron sulfate precipitates. The nature of the deposits formed, together with our other results, indicate that A. brierleyi, M. sedula and S. metallicus acted through the ‘contact’ and ‘non-contact’ sub-mechanisms of the indirect bioleaching mechanism for the dissolution of pyrite. The role of the bioleaching microorganisms is thus to maintain sufficient levels of Fe³⁺ and acid during pyrite leaching, for maximal mineral dissolution.     

Role and contribution of pure and mixed cultures of mesophiles in bioleaching of a pyritic chalcopyrite concentrate

This study compares the capacity of pure and mixed cultures of mesophilic bacteria for bioleaching of a low grade, pyritic chalcopyrite concentrate. In pure culture form, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was found to have a higher bioleaching capacity than Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans with the capability of the latter to bioleach copper being very limited. Mixed cultures, MixA (At. ferrooxidans, L. ferrooxidans and At. thiooxidans) and MixB (L. ferrooxidans and At. thiooxidans) were shown to perform better than the pure cultures with the highest extraction of copper (62.1% Cu) being achieved by MixA. Copper bioleaching performances of the cultures were observed to agree with their respective growth pattern. The results also indicated that the increase in the pulp density (1–5% wt/vol) adversely affected bioleaching process regardless of the pure and mixed cultures used having led to the decrease in the extent of final copper extraction i.e. 50.3% Cu recovery at 1% wt/vol for At. ferrooxidans compared with 38.6% Cu at 5% wt/vol. This study underlines the importance of mixed cultures and, iron and sulphur-oxidising activity of a bacterial culture to efficiently oxidise chalcopyrite.     

嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌浸出黄铜矿中氧化还原电位、黄铁钾钒和胞外聚合物的关系和影响(英文)

在合成的胞外聚合物(EPS)溶液中,研究不同起始总铁量、不同Fe(III)与Fe(II)摩尔比条件下嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌浸出黄铜矿过程中pH、电位、可溶性铁离子和Cu2+浓度随浸出时间的变化。结果表明:当溶液电位低于650mV(vsSHE)时,因细菌产生的EPS可通过絮凝黄铁钾钒延缓污染,即使铁离子浓度达到20g/L,黄铁钾钒对细菌浸出黄铜矿的阻碍作用也不是致命的,但随着铁离子浓度的增加而增加;细菌氧化的铁离子容易吸附在黄铜矿表面的EPS表层,有黄铁钾钒的EPS层是弱离子扩散壁垒,细菌通过把EPS空间内外的Fe2+氧化成Fe3+,进一步创造高于650mV的电位,导致EPS层离子扩散性能的快速恶化,严重地和不可逆地阻碍生物浸出黄铜矿。     

Research and application of bioleaching and biooxidation technologies in China

This paper presents some of the investigations of bioleaching and biooxidation applications in China. Bioleaching and biooxidation are new technologies with great potentials due to their simplicity, low operating cost, and little pollution to the environment. To date, two heap bioleaching plants and two biooxidation plants have been successfully put into operation to process copper ores and refractory gold concentrates, respectively. Investigations of applying bioleaching and biooxidation for other metal and non-metal resources are now being carried out.