Metal Solubilization by Microorganisms from a Technological and Environmental Perspective

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 5016

Special Issue Editors

CINDEFI (CCT La Plata-CONICET, UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interests: biomining; bioremediation; extremophiles; acid mine drainage; biotechnology in general
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
CINDEFI (CCT La Plata-CONICET, UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interests: bioleaching; biomining; metal recovery; extremophiles; biofilms
1. Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Faculties of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile
2. Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile
Interests: biofilm formation of bioleaching microorganisms; fluorescence microscopy, massive image analyses and OMICS techniques; microbial genetics and extracellular polymeric substances analysis and characterization; characterization of interactions and cell–cell communication in bioleaching consortia; changes in microbial diversity during bioleaching of chalcopyrite-containing ores; EPS production and analysis and development of methodologies for massive image analysis of biofilms of axenic and mixed bioleaching microbial consortia on pyrite and chalcopyrite surfaces
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The consumption of metals in the world is continuously increasing to support the requirements of our modern society. As a result, new technologies are needed to recover metals even from ore reserves with metal grades that do not allow the use of traditional technologies. Numerous chemolithotrophic microorganisms, ubiquitous in mining environments, are capable of catalyzing the solubilization of metals from metal sulfides. This ability of bioleaching microorganisms is the basis of the well-known bioleaching and biooxidation processes that are applied commercially in the recovery of some metals. Bioleaching could also be applied to huge amounts of mining wastes but also from many other sources (electronic wastes, depleted batteries and devices, metal-contaminated sediments and materials, etc.) that still present a high metal load that could be recovered allowing them to be dispersed in the environment with little or no environmental impact. However, this same microbial action, when it occurs under uncontrolled environmental conditions, significantly increases the formation of acid mine drainage in active or abandoned mines; in this case, it is essential to control or prevent microbial participation to avoid a significant environmental impact.

In this special issue, we invite original papers on different aspects of the solubilization of metals by microbial action from a technological perspective, oriented to the recovery of metals from primary or secondary sources and also from an environmental perspective including different aspects on the generation and/or inhibition of acid drainage with microbial contribution. The knowledge of bioleaching microorganisms, their natural microbial niches as well as the interaction between microorganisms and minerals or materials with metal content, are relevant to improve the efficiency of biosolubilization processes to recover metals but also to generate alternatives to prevent the generation of acid drainage; therefore, advances on these fields will also be of interest for this Special Issue.

Dr. Edgardo Rubén Donati
Dr. Camila Castro
Dr. Mario Vera
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Metal biosolubilization
  • Bioleaching
  • Biooxidation
  • Acid mine drainage
  • Bioremediation
  • Bioleaching microorganisms
  • Biodiversity
  • Microbial resistance
  • Metal-microorganism interaction
  • Tailings treatment

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1598 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Extracellular Polymeric Substances Produced by an Acidianus Species and Their Relevance to Bioleaching
by Camila Castro, Edgardo R. Donati and Mario Vera
Minerals 2023, 13(3), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030310 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1328
Abstract
Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by microorganisms play a crucial role in various bioprocesses, including bioleaching. The microbial leaching of metal sulfides requires an initial cell attachment, which is facilitated by EPS. These substances are mixtures of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and other compounds, [...] Read more.
Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by microorganisms play a crucial role in various bioprocesses, including bioleaching. The microbial leaching of metal sulfides requires an initial cell attachment, which is facilitated by EPS. These substances are mixtures of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and other compounds, and their composition and properties can vary depending on the species, growth conditions, and environmental factors. Despite the significance of iron/sulfur oxidizing species in biomining processes, the knowledge of the interfacial processes between thermoacidophilic archaeal species and mineral surfaces is limited. This study examines the cell surface characteristics and EPS produced by an Acidianus strain. The research was conducted using microscopic techniques, Zeta-potential measurements, spectrophotometric methods, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and fluorescence lectin-binding analysis. The results suggest that non-soluble substrates, such as sulfur or pyrite, induce changes in cell surface structures, including the presence of cell appendages, wider cell envelopes, higher hydrophobicities, and increased EPS production, compared to cells grown with soluble substrates such as tetrathionate or ferrous iron. The EPS mainly consist of proteins and carbohydrates, including glucose, manose, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylglucosamine residues. This study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between thermophilic archaea and mineral surfaces in biomining processes. Full article
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13 pages, 2361 KiB  
Article
Bioleaching of a Chalcocite-Dominant Copper Ore from Salta, Argentina, by Mesophilic and Thermophilic Microorganisms
by Agustina Amar, Francisco L. Massello, Cristina S. Costa, Camila Castro and Edgardo R. Donati
Minerals 2023, 13(1), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13010052 - 28 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1539
Abstract
The study and development of new sustainable mining methods to exploit low-grade ores and secondary metallic resources are essential to meet global demand and contribute to caring for the environment. Copper is one of the most widely used metals and chalcocite is the [...] Read more.
The study and development of new sustainable mining methods to exploit low-grade ores and secondary metallic resources are essential to meet global demand and contribute to caring for the environment. Copper is one of the most widely used metals and chalcocite is the main secondary sulfide of this metal. Therefore, the study of copper recovery from chalcocite-dominant minerals could have a great impact on the industry. In this study, we assess at bench scale the feasibility of applying biohydrometallurgical processes to extract copper from chalcocite-rich minerals from Taca Taca, Argentina, using native mesophilic microorganisms (30 °C) and thermophiles (45, 65 °C). The indigenous mesophilic consortium was dominated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and could solubilize all the copper present in the systems (113 mg/L) within three weeks without any change in the pH of the solution. Notably, by increasing the temperature up to 45 and 65 °C, copper leaching was enhanced, completing the recovery in 7–14 days. The oxidizing microorganisms active in these conditions were Ferroplasma sp. and Acidianus copahuensis, respectively. An increase in the abiotic copper recovery was also observed as temperature rose; as well as a slight acidification of the solution. This study constitutes the first assessment for the bioleaching of Taca Taca ores. Full article
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12 pages, 1564 KiB  
Article
Response Surface Methodology Analysis of the Effect of the Addition of Silicone Oil on the Transfer of Carbon Dioxide during Bioleaching of Mining Tailings by Native Microorganisms
by David Zazueta-Álvarez, Hiram Medrano-Roldán, Perla Vázquez-Ortega, Cynthia Núñez-Núñez, Grisel Fierros-Romero, Juan Rojas-Contreras, Carlos Álvarez-Álvarez and Damián Reyes-Jáquez
Minerals 2022, 12(5), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050550 - 28 Apr 2022
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Abstract
The bioleaching of manganese present in mining waste after metal extraction can be catalyzed by Leptospirillum (L.) ferriphilum by allowing atmospheric carbon dioxide to be used in this autotrophic process and generating the subsequent recovery of silver. Bioleaching of metals is widely performed [...] Read more.
The bioleaching of manganese present in mining waste after metal extraction can be catalyzed by Leptospirillum (L.) ferriphilum by allowing atmospheric carbon dioxide to be used in this autotrophic process and generating the subsequent recovery of silver. Bioleaching of metals is widely performed in agitated tanks; therefore, it is important to assess the mass transfer capacity of gaseous substrates, such as carbon dioxide, during the microbial processes. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of the presence and concentration of a transfer vector (silicone oil) added into a stirred-tank bioreactor during bioleaching of mining tailings catalyzed by L. ferriphilum, determined by the combined gas/oil mass transfer coefficient of carbon dioxide (kLaCO2) into the aqueous phase. The experiments were carried out following a Box–Behnken experimental design, evaluating the concentrations of mining waste (30%, 40%, and 50%), Fe2+, serving as electron donor (2, 8, and 14 g/L), and silicon oil (0%, 5%, and 10%). A significant increase in kLaCO2 was observed after the addition of the transfer vector by comparing the lowest kLaCO2 value of 1.68 h−1 (obtained at 50% pulp, 8 g/L Fe2+, and 0% silicone oil) and the highest kLaCO2 of 21.81 h−1 (obtained at 30% pulp, 2 g/L Fe2+, 5% silicone oil). The results showed statistically significant differences in the transfer of carbon dioxide during the bioleaching process with a transfer vector. Full article
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