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Mykrä H, Aroviita J, Tolonen K, Turunen J, Weckström K, Weckström J, Hellsten S. Detecting mining impacts on freshwater ecosystems using replicated sampling before and after the impact. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:635. [PMID: 38900337 PMCID: PMC11190011 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12812-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Detecting human impact on freshwater ecosystems is problematic without rigorous assessment of temporal changes. Assessments of mining impacts are further complicated by the strong influence of local catchment geology on surface waters even in unmined environments. Such influence cannot be effectively considered by using broad-scale reference frameworks based on regionalization and stream types. Using the BACI (Before-After Control-Impact) design, we examined the impact of mining discharges on freshwater algae and macroinvertebrate communities resulting from the rerouting of treated wastewaters through a pipeline to larger water bodies in Northern and North-Eastern Finland. Impacted sites and control sites were sampled 1 to 2 years before and 1 to 3 years after the pipelines became operational. Stream diatom communities recovered from past loadings upstream of the pipeline (which was no longer impacted by wastewaters) after rerouting of the wastewaters, while no changes downstream from the pipeline were detected. Upstream from the pipeline, diatom species richness increased and changes in relative abundances of the most common diatom taxa as well as in the overall community composition were observed. The effects of the pipeline were less evident for stream macroinvertebrate communities. There was an indication that regional reference conditions used in national biomonitoring may not represent diatom communities in areas with a strong geochemical background influence. Lake profundal macroinvertebrate communities were impacted by past loadings before the construction of the pipeline, and the influence of the pipeline was observed only as changes in the abundances of a few individual species such as phantom midges (which increased in abundance in response to discharges directed through the pipeline). Our results highlight the variable influence of mining discharges on aquatic communities. Statistically strong monitoring programmes, such as BACI designs, are clearly needed to detect these influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heikki Mykrä
- Finnish Environment Institute, Nature Solutions, P.O. Box 413, 90014, Oulu, FI, Finland.
| | - Jukka Aroviita
- Finnish Environment Institute, Marine and Freshwater Solutions, P.O. Box 413, 90014, Oulu, FI, Finland
| | - Kimmo Tolonen
- Finnish Environment Institute, Nature Solutions, P.O. Box 413, 90014, Oulu, FI, Finland
| | - Jarno Turunen
- Finnish Environment Institute, Marine and Freshwater Solutions, P.O. Box 413, 90014, Oulu, FI, Finland
| | - Kaarina Weckström
- University of Helsinki, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), (Viikinkaari 1), P.O. Box 65, 00014, Helsinki, FI, Finland
| | - Jan Weckström
- University of Helsinki, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), (Viikinkaari 1), P.O. Box 65, 00014, Helsinki, FI, Finland
| | - Seppo Hellsten
- Finnish Environment Institute, Marine and Freshwater Solutions, P.O. Box 413, 90014, Oulu, FI, Finland
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Arias D, Zepeda V, Nancucheo I, Saldaña M, Galleguillos PA. Osmotic response in Leptospirillum ferriphilum isolated from an industrial copper bioleaching environment to sulfate. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1369244. [PMID: 38855770 PMCID: PMC11157003 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1369244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Iron and sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms play important roles in several natural and industrial processes. Leptospirillum (L.) ferriphilum, is an iron-oxidizing microorganism with a remarkable adaptability to thrive in extreme acidic environments, including heap bioleaching processes, acid mine drainage (AMD) and natural acidic water. A strain of L. ferriphilum (IESL25) was isolated from an industrial bioleaching process in northern Chile. This strain was challenged to grow at increasing concentrations of sulfate in order to assess changes in protein expression profiles, cells shape and to determine potential compatible solute molecules. The results unveiled changes in three proteins: succinyl CoA (SCoA) synthetase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASD); which were notably overexpressed when the strain grew at elevated concentrations of sulfate. ASD plays a pivotal role in the synthesis of the compatible solute ectoine, which was identified along with hydroxyectoine by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). The relationship between IDH, SCoA, and ectoine production could be due to the TCA cycle, in which both enzymes produce metabolites that can be utilized as precursors or intermediates in the biosynthesis of ectoine. In addition, distinct filamentous cellular morphology in L. ferriphilum IESL25 was observed when growing under sulfate stress conditions. This study highlights a new insight into the possible cellular responses of L. ferriphilum under the presence of high sulfate levels, commonly found in bioleaching of sulfide minerals or AMD environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayana Arias
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Applied Microbiology, Centro de Investigación en Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Víctor Zepeda
- Scientific and Technological Research Centre for Mining Research, CICITEM, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Ivan Nancucheo
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - Manuel Saldaña
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Arturo Prat University, Iquique, Chile
| | - Pedro A. Galleguillos
- Scientific and Technological Research Centre for Mining Research, CICITEM, Antofagasta, Chile
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Ibáñez A, Garrido-Chamorro S, Coque JJR, Barreiro C. From Genes to Bioleaching: Unraveling Sulfur Metabolism in Acidithiobacillus Genus. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1772. [PMID: 37761912 PMCID: PMC10531304 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sulfur oxidation stands as a pivotal process within the Earth's sulfur cycle, in which Acidithiobacillus species emerge as skillful sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. They are able to efficiently oxidize several reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) under extreme conditions for their autotrophic growth. This unique characteristic has made these bacteria a useful tool in bioleaching and biological desulfurization applications. Extensive research has unraveled diverse sulfur metabolism pathways and their corresponding regulatory systems. The metabolic arsenal of the Acidithiobacillus genus includes oxidative enzymes such as: (i) elemental sulfur oxidation enzymes, like sulfur dioxygenase (SDO), sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR), and heterodisulfide reductase (HDR-like system); (ii) enzymes involved in thiosulfate oxidation pathways, including the sulfur oxidation (Sox) system, tetrathionate hydrolase (TetH), and thiosulfate quinone oxidoreductase (TQO); (iii) sulfide oxidation enzymes, like sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR); and (iv) sulfite oxidation pathways, such as sulfite oxidase (SOX). This review summarizes the current state of the art of sulfur metabolic processes in Acidithiobacillus species, which are key players of industrial biomining processes. Furthermore, this manuscript highlights the existing challenges and barriers to further exploring the sulfur metabolism of this peculiar extremophilic genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ibáñez
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (J.J.R.C.)
- Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACyL), Área de Investigación Agrícola, 47071 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sonia Garrido-Chamorro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, 24007 León, Spain;
| | - Juan J. R. Coque
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (J.J.R.C.)
| | - Carlos Barreiro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, 24007 León, Spain;
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Liapun V, Motola M. Current overview and future perspective in fungal biorecovery of metals from secondary sources. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 332:117345. [PMID: 36724599 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms are intimately involved in many biogeochemical processes that underpin the transformation of metals and cycling of related substances, such as metalloids and radionuclides. Many processes determine the mobility and bioavailability of metals, thereby influencing their transfer to the environment and living organisms. These processes are closely related to global phenomena such as soil formation and bioweathering. In addition to environmental significance, microbial metal transformations play an essential role in both in situ and ex situ bioremediation processes for solid and liquid wastes. The solubilization of heavy metals from industrial waste and soil is commonly used in bioremediation. Moreover, immobilization processes are applicable to bioremediation of metals and radionuclides from aqueous solutions. This review provides an overview of critical metal extraction and recovery from secondary sources, applied microorganisms and methods, metal-microbe interactions, as well as a detailed description of known metal recovery mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoriia Liapun
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Martin Motola
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Submerged macrophytes mediated remediation of molybdenum-contaminated sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:48962-48971. [PMID: 36763266 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25537-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Molybdenum (Mo) sourced mainly from artificial activities is an emerging environmental concern whose remediation is seldom reported. This study screened the Mo-enriched macrophyte Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara due to its high enrichment factor (10.25). Phytoremediation (V. natans) and microorganism-assisted phytoremediation (V. natans-Serratia marcescens A2) efficiency were compared. S. marcescens A2 improved phytoremediation in the early stage, however, it reduced the total Mo removal rate by 8.42%. Further experiments were conducted to investigate the environmental factors (light intensity and overlying water flow rate) on the phytoremediation by V. natans. The optimal phytoremediation performance was achieved under a high overlying water flow rate (0.022 cm·s-1) with intense light (60 μmol·m-2·s-1) conditions. In addition, increasing the light intensity or flow rate increased the microbial communities' diversity in the sediment. Notably, the abundance of norank_f__Bacteroidetes_vadinHA17, related to Mo release in sediments, increased by 147.96% at optimal conditions. This study illustrated that the phytoremediation of Mo-contaminated sediments by V. natans is of practical potential.
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Sand W, Schippers A, Hedrich S, Vera M. Progress in bioleaching: fundamentals and mechanisms of microbial metal sulfide oxidation - part A. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:6933-6952. [PMID: 36194263 PMCID: PMC9592645 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12168-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Bioleaching of metal sulfides is performed by diverse microorganisms. The dissolution of metal sulfides occurs via two chemical pathways, either the thiosulfate or the polysulfide pathway. These are determined by the metal sulfides’ mineralogy and their acid solubility. The microbial cell enables metal sulfide dissolution via oxidation of iron(II) ions and inorganic sulfur compounds. Thereby, the metal sulfide attacking agents iron(III) ions and protons are generated. Cells are active either in a planktonic state or attached to the mineral surface, forming biofilms. This review, as an update of the previous one (Vera et al., 2013a), summarizes some recent discoveries relevant to bioleaching microorganisms, contributing to a better understanding of their lifestyle. These comprise phylogeny, chemical pathways, surface science, biochemistry of iron and sulfur metabolism, anaerobic metabolism, cell–cell communication, molecular biology, and biofilm lifestyle. Recent advances from genetic engineering applied to bioleaching microorganisms will allow in the future to better understand important aspects of their physiology, as well as to open new possibilities for synthetic biology applications of leaching microbial consortia. Key points • Leaching of metal sulfides is strongly enhanced by microorganisms • Biofilm formation and extracellular polymer production influences bioleaching • Cell interactions in mixed bioleaching cultures are key for process optimization
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Sand
- Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany. .,Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Axel Schippers
- Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Mario Vera
- Instituto de Ingeniería Biológica y Médica, Escuelas de Ingeniería, Medicina y Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. .,Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Escuela de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Neira G, Vergara E, Holmes DS. Genome-guided prediction of acid resistance mechanisms in acidophilic methanotrophs of phylogenetically deep-rooted Verrucomicrobia isolated from geothermal environments. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:900531. [PMID: 36212841 PMCID: PMC9543262 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.900531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Verrucomicrobia are a group of microorganisms that have been proposed to be deeply rooted in the Tree of Life. Some are methanotrophs that oxidize the potent greenhouse gas methane and are thus important in decreasing atmospheric concentrations of the gas, potentially ameliorating climate change. They are widespread in various environments including soil and fresh or marine waters. Recently, a clade of extremely acidophilic Verrucomicrobia, flourishing at pH < 3, were described from high-temperature geothermal ecosystems. This novel group could be of interest for studies about the emergence of life on Earth and to astrobiologists as homologs for possible extraterrestrial life. In this paper, we describe predicted mechanisms for survival of this clade at low pH and suggest its possible evolutionary trajectory from an inferred neutrophilic ancestor. Extreme acidophiles are defined as organisms that thrive in extremely low pH environments (≤ pH 3). Many are polyextremophiles facing high temperatures and high salt as well as low pH. They are important to study for both providing fundamental insights into biological mechanisms of survival and evolution in such extreme environments and for understanding their roles in biotechnological applications such as industrial mineral recovery (bioleaching) and mitigation of acid mine drainage. They are also, potentially, a rich source of novel genes and pathways for the genetic engineering of microbial strains. Acidophiles of the Verrucomicrobia phylum are unique as they are the only known aerobic methanotrophs that can grow optimally under acidic (pH 2–3) and moderately thermophilic conditions (50–60°C). Three moderately thermophilic genera, namely Methylacidiphilum, Methylacidimicrobium, and Ca. Methylacidithermus, have been described in geothermal environments. Most of the investigations of these organisms have focused on their methane oxidizing capabilities (methanotrophy) and use of lanthanides as a protein cofactor, with no extensive study that sheds light on the mechanisms that they use to flourish at extremely low pH. In this paper, we extend the phylogenetic description of this group of acidophiles using whole genome information and we identify several mechanisms, potentially involved in acid resistance, including “first line of defense” mechanisms that impede the entry of protons into the cell. These include the presence of membrane-associated hopanoids, multiple copies of the outer membrane protein (Slp), and inner membrane potassium channels (kup, kdp) that generate a reversed membrane potential repelling the intrusion of protons. Acidophilic Verrucomicrobia also display a wide array of proteins potentially involved in the “second line of defense” where protons that evaded the first line of defense and entered the cell are expelled or neutralized, such as the glutamate decarboxylation (gadAB) and phosphate-uptake systems. An exclusive N-type ATPase F0-F1 was identified only in acidophiles of Verrucomicrobia and is predicted to be a specific adaptation in these organisms. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that many predicted mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved and most likely entered the acidophilic lineage of Verrucomicrobia by vertical descent from a common ancestor. However, it is likely that some defense mechanisms such as gadA and kup entered the acidophilic Verrucomicrobia lineage by horizontal gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Neira
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eva Vergara
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - David S. Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: David S. Holmes
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Roberto FF, Schippers A. Progress in bioleaching: part B, applications of microbial processes by the minerals industries. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:5913-5928. [PMID: 36038754 PMCID: PMC9424069 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12085-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This review provides an update to the last mini-review with the same title pertaining to recent developments in bioleaching and biooxidation published in 2013 (Brierley and Brierley). In the intervening almost 10 years, microbial processes for sulfide minerals have seen increased acceptance and ongoing but also declining commercial application in copper, gold, nickel and cobalt production. These processes have been applied to heap and tank leaching, nowadays termed biomining, but increasing concerns about the social acceptance of mining has also seen the re-emergence of in situ leaching and quest for broader applicability beyond uranium and copper. Besides metal sulfide oxidation, mineral dissolution via reductive microbial activities has seen experimental application to laterite minerals. And as resources decline or costs for their exploitation rise, mine waste rock and tailings have become more attractive to consider as easily accessible resources. As an advantage, they have already been removed from the ground and in some cases contain ore grades exceeding that of those currently being mined. These factors promote concepts of circular economy and efficient use and valorization of waste materials. KEY POINTS: • Bioleaching of copper sulfide ore deposits is producing less copper today • Biooxidation of refractory gold ores is producing more gold than in the past • Available data suggest bioleaching and biooxidation processes reduce carbon emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco F. Roberto
- Technical Services Processing and Metallurgy, Newmont Corporation, Englewood, CO USA
| | - Axel Schippers
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Geomicrobiology Unit, Resource Geochemistry, Stilleweg 2 30655, Hannover, Germany
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Muñoz-Villagrán C, Grossolli-Gálvez J, Acevedo-Arbunic J, Valenzuela X, Ferrer A, Díez B, Levicán G. Characterization and genomic analysis of two novel psychrotolerant Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains from polar and subpolar environments. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:960324. [PMID: 36090071 PMCID: PMC9449456 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.960324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The bioleaching process is carried out by aerobic acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria that are mainly mesophilic or moderately thermophilic. However, many mining sites are located in areas where the mean temperature is lower than the optimal growth temperature of these microorganisms. In this work, we report the obtaining and characterization of two psychrotolerant bioleaching bacterial strains from low-temperature sites that included an abandoned mine site in Chilean Patagonia (PG05) and an acid rock drainage in Marian Cove, King George Island in Antarctic (MC2.2). The PG05 and MC2.2 strains showed significant iron-oxidation activity and grew optimally at 20°C. Genome sequence analyses showed chromosomes of 2.76 and 2.84 Mbp for PG05 and MC2.2, respectively, and an average nucleotide identity estimation indicated that both strains clustered with the acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The Patagonian PG05 strain had a high content of genes coding for tolerance to metals such as lead, zinc, and copper. Concordantly, electron microscopy revealed the intracellular presence of polyphosphate-like granules, likely involved in tolerance to metals and other stress conditions. The Antarctic MC2.2 strain showed a high dosage of genes for mercury resistance and low temperature adaptation. This report of cold-adapted cultures of the At. ferrooxidans species opens novel perspectives to satisfy the current challenges of the metal bioleaching industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Muñoz-Villagrán
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Jonnathan Grossolli-Gálvez
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Acevedo-Arbunic
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Ximena Valenzuela
- Programa de Biorremediación, Campus Patagonia, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Alonso Ferrer
- Núcleo de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Beatriz Díez
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Genome Regulation (CRG), Santiago, Chile
| | - Gloria Levicán
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: Gloria Levicán,
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Huang MQ, Zhang M, Zhan SL, Chen L, Xue ZL. Saturated Dissolved Oxygen Concentration in in situ Fragmentation Bioleaching of Copper Sulfide Ores. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:821635. [PMID: 35464926 PMCID: PMC9019730 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.821635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In situ fragmentation bioleaching is a promising way to perform deep mining safely, economically, and in an environmentally friendly manner, where oxygen plays a critical role in microbial growth and mineral dissolution. However, the lack of oxygen limits the implementation of in-situ fragmentation bioleaching. To overcome this limitation, aeration was proposed, with saturated dissolved oxygen concentration as an important indicator. Orthogonal experiments were conducted to measure saturated dissolved oxygen concentration at various temperature, pH, and electrolyte (ferrous sulfate, ferric sulfate, copper sulfate, and sulfuric acid) concentration conditions. Experimental data were analyzed by Python programming language and least squares method to obtain a saturated dissolved oxygen concentration model. Results showed that temperature had the most significant effect on oxygen solubility, which was concluded by comparing the results of surface fitting based on the least squares method. At 30-40°C, the saturated dissolved oxygen concentration decreased faster as metal ions concentration increased. The conjoint effect of the five variables on oxygen solubility showed that pH was linearly negatively related to oxygen solubility. Additionally, a mathematical model was also proposed to predict the saturated dissolved oxygen concentration in in situ fragmentation bioleaching of copper sulfide ores. This work enables bioleaching processes to be modeled and controlled more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Qing Huang
- Zijin School of Geology and Mining, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Zijin School of Geology and Mining, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shu-Lin Zhan
- Zijin School of Geology and Mining, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Zijin School of Geology and Mining, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhen-Lin Xue
- College of Mining Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
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11
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Díaz A, Marrero J, Cabrera G, Coto O, Gómez JM. Optimization of nickel and cobalt biosorption by native Serratia marcescens strains isolated from serpentine deposits using response surface methodology. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:167. [PMID: 35142917 PMCID: PMC8831376 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-09816-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of metal-polluted wastes is a challenging issue of environmental concern. Metals can be removed using microbial biomass, and this is an interesting approach towards the design of eco-friendly technologies for liquid waste treatment. The study reported here aimed to optimize nickel and cobalt biosorption from aqueous solutions using three native metal-resistant Serratia marcescens strains. Ni(II) and Co(II) biosorption by S. marcescens strains was found to fit better to Langmuir's model, with maximum uptake capacities of 13.5 mg g-1 for Ni(II) ions and 19.9 mg g-1 for Co(II) ions. Different experimental conditions of initial metal concentration, pH, initial biomass, and temperature were optimized using the Plackett-Burman method, and, finally, biomass and metal concentration were studied using the response surface methodology (RSM) to improve biosorption. The optimum uptake capacities for Co(II) ions by the three biosorbents used were obtained for initial metal concentrations of 35-40 mg L-1 and an initial biomass of 6 mg. For Ni(II) ions, the optimum uptake capacity was achieved with 1 mg of initial biomass for S. marcescens C-1 and C-19, and with 7 mg for S. marcescens C-16, with initial concentrations of 20-50 mg L-1. The results obtained demonstrate the viability of native S. marcescens strains as biosorbents for Ni(II) and Co(II) removal. This study also contributes to our understanding of the potential uses of serpentine microbial populations for the design of environmental cleanup technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Díaz
- Metal Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (Cuba), Calle 25 #455 Vedado, 10400, La Habana, Cuba
| | - J Marrero
- Metal Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (Cuba), Calle 25 #455 Vedado, 10400, La Habana, Cuba
| | - G Cabrera
- Biological and Enzymatic Reactors Group, Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Technology, Faculty of Sciences, 11510, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain
| | - O Coto
- Metal Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (Cuba), Calle 25 #455 Vedado, 10400, La Habana, Cuba
| | - J M Gómez
- Biological and Enzymatic Reactors Group, Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Technology, Faculty of Sciences, 11510, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain.
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12
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Santomartino R, Zea L, Cockell CS. The smallest space miners: principles of space biomining. Extremophiles 2022; 26:7. [PMID: 34993644 PMCID: PMC8739323 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-021-01253-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
As we aim to expand human presence in space, we need to find viable approaches to achieve independence from terrestrial resources. Space biomining of the Moon, Mars and asteroids has been indicated as one of the promising approaches to achieve in-situ resource utilization by the main space agencies. Structural and expensive metals, essential mineral nutrients, water, oxygen and volatiles could be potentially extracted from extraterrestrial regolith and rocks using microbial-based biotechnologies. The use of bioleaching microorganisms could also be applied to space bioremediation, recycling of waste and to reinforce regenerative life support systems. However, the science around space biomining is still young. Relevant differences between terrestrial and extraterrestrial conditions exist, including the rock types and ores available for mining, and a direct application of established terrestrial biomining techniques may not be a possibility. It is, therefore, necessary to invest in terrestrial and space-based research of specific methods for space applications to learn the effects of space conditions on biomining and bioremediation, expand our knowledge on organotrophic and community-based bioleaching mechanisms, as well as on anaerobic biomining, and investigate the use of synthetic biology to overcome limitations posed by the space environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Santomartino
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK.
| | - Luis Zea
- BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK
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13
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Li J, Xu T, Liu J, Wen J, Gong S. Bioleaching metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) by Aspergillus niger: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:44622-44637. [PMID: 34215982 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15074-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the twenty-first century, the increasing demand for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has caused its quick update and the shortening of its service life span. As a consequence, a large number of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) needs to be processed and recycled. As an environmentally friendly method, biometallurgy has received extensive attention in the disposal of WEEE in recent years. Aspergillus niger is an acid-producing fungus with a potential applicability to improve metals' recycling efficiency. This review article describes the latest statistical status of WEEE and presents the latest progress of various metallurgical methods involved in WEEE recycling for metal recovery. Moreover, based on the summary and comparison towards studies have been reported for bioleaching metals from WEEE by A. niger, the bioleaching mechanisms and the bioleaching methods are explained, as well as the effects of process parameters on the performance of the bioleaching process are also discussed. Some insights and perspectives are provided for A. niger to be applied to industrial processing scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Li
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China.
| | - Tong Xu
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Jinyuan Liu
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Jiangxian Wen
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Shuli Gong
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
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14
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Cockell CS, Santomartino R, Finster K, Waajen AC, Nicholson N, Loudon CM, Eades LJ, Moeller R, Rettberg P, Fuchs FM, Van Houdt R, Leys N, Coninx I, Hatton J, Parmitano L, Krause J, Koehler A, Caplin N, Zuijderduijn L, Mariani A, Pellari S, Carubia F, Luciani G, Balsamo M, Zolesi V, Ochoa J, Sen P, Watt JAJ, Doswald-Winkler J, Herová M, Rattenbacher B, Wadsworth J, Everroad RC, Demets R. Microbially-Enhanced Vanadium Mining and Bioremediation Under Micro- and Mars Gravity on the International Space Station. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:641387. [PMID: 33868198 PMCID: PMC8047202 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.641387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As humans explore and settle in space, they will need to mine elements to support industries such as manufacturing and construction. In preparation for the establishment of permanent human settlements across the Solar System, we conducted the ESA BioRock experiment on board the International Space Station to investigate whether biological mining could be accomplished under extraterrestrial gravity conditions. We tested the hypothesis that the gravity (g) level influenced the efficacy with which biomining could be achieved from basalt, an abundant material on the Moon and Mars, by quantifying bioleaching by three different microorganisms under microgravity, simulated Mars and Earth gravitational conditions. One element of interest in mining is vanadium (V), which is added to steel to fabricate high strength, corrosion-resistant structural materials for buildings, transportation, tools and other applications. The results showed that Sphingomonas desiccabilis and Bacillus subtilis enhanced the leaching of vanadium under the three gravity conditions compared to sterile controls by 184.92 to 283.22%, respectively. Gravity did not have a significant effect on mean leaching, thus showing the potential for biomining on Solar System objects with diverse gravitational conditions. Our results demonstrate the potential to use microorganisms to conduct elemental mining and other bioindustrial processes in space locations with non-1 × g gravity. These same principles apply to extraterrestrial bioremediation and elemental recycling beyond Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa Santomartino
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kai Finster
- Department of Biology - Microbiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Annemiek C Waajen
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Claire-Marie Loudon
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lorna J Eades
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Köln, Germany
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Köln, Germany
| | - Felix M Fuchs
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Köln, Germany.,Institute of Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Sciences, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rob Van Houdt
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Natalie Leys
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ilse Coninx
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jon Ochoa
- ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.,Space Application Services NV/SA, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Pia Sen
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - James A J Watt
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jeannine Doswald-Winkler
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Herová
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Rattenbacher
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Wadsworth
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - R Craig Everroad
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United States
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15
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Giese EC. Influence of organic acids on pentlandite bioleaching by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans LR. 3 Biotech 2021; 11:165. [PMID: 33786282 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-021-02711-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioleaching is a bio-hydrometallurgical process of solubilizing metals from low-grade sulfide ores by microbial action employing chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms capable of promoting redox reactions. Organic acids have been applied in bioleaching once can act in two different ways; providing hydrogen ions for mineral acidolysis and complexing metals due to their chelating capacity. This study investigates the synergy of different organic acids (acetic, ascorbic, citric, lactic, and oxalic) and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans LR pentlandite bioleaching. The addition of oxalic acid had a positive effect on the Ni extraction during pentlandite biological-chemical leaching after 15 days, and the yields observed were 45.6% (26.5 mg Ni/g ore). The yields for Co extraction were meager, and Co extraction values were found to only 2.8% (1.6 mg Co/g ore) in the presence of citric acid. A design of experiments with mixtures was used to evaluate the interaction of organic acids in bioleaching. According to simplex-centroid experiments, only citric acid presented a statistically significant effect and has contributed in a synergistic form in pentlandite biological-chemical leaching in the presence of A. ferrooxidans. This study provides a new synergistic bioleaching system to improve Ni and Co extraction from sulfide ores.
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16
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Lee J, Mahandra H, Hein GA, Ramsay J, Ghahreman A. Toward Sustainable Solution for Biooxidation of Waste and Refractory Materials Using Neutrophilic and Alkaliphilic Microorganisms—A Review. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:2274-2292. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c01582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jung Lee
- Hydrometallurgy and Environment Laboratory, Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen’s University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Harshit Mahandra
- Hydrometallurgy and Environment Laboratory, Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen’s University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Guillermo Alvial Hein
- Hydrometallurgy and Environment Laboratory, Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen’s University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Juliana Ramsay
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University, 19 Division Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Ahmad Ghahreman
- Hydrometallurgy and Environment Laboratory, Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen’s University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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17
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The Survival of Haloferax mediterranei under Stressful Conditions. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020336. [PMID: 33567751 PMCID: PMC7915512 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Haloarchaea can survive and thrive under exposure to a wide range of extreme environmental factors, which represents a potential interest to biotechnology. Growth responses to different stressful conditions were examined in the haloarchaeon Haloferax mediterranei R4. It has been demonstrated that this halophilic archaeon is able to grow between 10 and 32.5% (w/v) of sea water, at 32–52 °C, although it is expected to grow in temperatures lower than 32 °C, and between 5.75 and 8.75 of pH. Moreover, it can also grow under high metal concentrations (nickel, lithium, cobalt, arsenic), which are toxic to most living beings, making it a promising candidate for future biotechnological purposes and industrial applications. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis quantified the intracellular ion concentrations of these four metals in Hfx. mediterranei, concluding that this haloarchaeon can accumulate Li+, Co2+, As5+, and Ni2+ within the cell. This paper is the first report on Hfx. mediterranei in which multiple stress conditions have been studied to explore the mechanism of stress resistance. It constitutes the most detailed study in Haloarchaea, and, as a consequence, new biotechnological and industrial applications have emerged.
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18
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Processing Tests, Adjusted Cost Models and the Economies of Reprocessing Copper Mine Tailings in Chile. METALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/met11010103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To increase resource efficiency, mining residues–especially tailings–have come into the focus of research, companies, and politics. Tailings still contain varying amounts of unextracted elements of value and minerals that were not of economic interest during production. As for primary mineral deposits, only a small share of tailings offers the possibility for an economic reprocessing. To minimize exploration expenditure, a stepwise process is followed during exploration, to estimate the likelihood of a project to become a mine or in this case a reprocessing facility. During this process, costs are continuously estimated at least in an order of magnitude. Reprocessing flowsheets for copper mine tailings in Chile were developed and costs and revenues of possible products from reprocessing were examined for a rough economic assessment. Standard cost models with capex and opex for flotation, leaching, and magnetic separation were adopted to the needs of tailings reprocessing. A copper tailing (around 2 M t) that also contains magnetite was chosen as a case study. A combination of magnetic separation and leaching gave the best economic results for copper and magnetite. The adopted cost models showed positive results at this early stage of investigation (semi-technical scale processing tests).
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19
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Patel A, Enman J, Gulkova A, Guntoro PI, Dutkiewicz A, Ghorbani Y, Rova U, Christakopoulos P, Matsakas L. Integrating biometallurgical recovery of metals with biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 263:128306. [PMID: 33297243 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Industrial activities, such as mining, electroplating, cement production, and metallurgical operations, as well as manufacturing of plastics, fertilizers, pesticides, batteries, dyes or anticorrosive agents, can cause metal contamination in the surrounding environment. This is an acute problem due to the non-biodegradable nature of metal pollutants, their transformation into toxic and carcinogenic compounds, and bioaccumulation through the food chain. At the same time, platinum group metals and rare earth elements are of strong economic interest and their recovery is incentivized. Microbial interaction with metals or metals-bearing minerals can facilitate metals recovery in the form of nanoparticles. Metal nanoparticles are gaining increasing attention due to their unique characteristics and application as antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents, biocatalysts, in targeted drug delivery, for wastewater treatment, and in water electrolysis. Ideally, metal nanoparticles should be homogenous in shape and size, and not toxic to humans or the environment. Microbial synthesis of nanoparticles represents a safe, and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical and physical methods. In this review article, we mainly focus on metal and metal salts nanoparticles synthesized by various microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, microalgae, and yeasts, as well as their advantages in biomedical, health, and environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok Patel
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Josefine Enman
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87, Luleå, Sweden
| | | | - Pratama Istiadi Guntoro
- Mineral Processing, Division of Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Agata Dutkiewicz
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Yousef Ghorbani
- Mineral Processing, Division of Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Rova
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Paul Christakopoulos
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Leonidas Matsakas
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87, Luleå, Sweden.
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20
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Fungal Tolerance: An Alternative for the Selection of Fungi with Potential for the Biological Recovery of Precious Metals. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10228096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The behavior of various filamentous fungi in the presence of metals such as Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, and V has been widely reported. However, there is little information regarding metals such as Au, Ag and Pt that are not in the form of nanoparticles. The growth of eight filamentous fungi was evaluated at increasing doses of Au, Ag and Pt. The fungi were reactivated in Petri dishes with potato dextrose agar. Subsequently, individual mycelial disks from each strain were inoculated in PDA plates with the following doses of AuCl3, Ag2SO4 and PtCl4: 0, 50, 150 and 300 mg L−1, respectively. The plates were then incubated for 20 days—a period in which the diameter of the colony was measured every 24 h. Au showed the highest toxicity for the tested fungi. All silver doses decreased the growth of most of the fungi, while platinum did not cause any inhibitory effect on the growth of the eight tested fungi. With a simple test, it was possible to observe the effect of precious metals (PMs) on the growth of filamentous fungi and consider their possible biotechnological applications in the recovery of PMs from primary or secondary sources.
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21
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Cockell CS, Santomartino R, Finster K, Waajen AC, Eades LJ, Moeller R, Rettberg P, Fuchs FM, Van Houdt R, Leys N, Coninx I, Hatton J, Parmitano L, Krause J, Koehler A, Caplin N, Zuijderduijn L, Mariani A, Pellari SS, Carubia F, Luciani G, Balsamo M, Zolesi V, Nicholson N, Loudon CM, Doswald-Winkler J, Herová M, Rattenbacher B, Wadsworth J, Craig Everroad R, Demets R. Space station biomining experiment demonstrates rare earth element extraction in microgravity and Mars gravity. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5523. [PMID: 33173035 PMCID: PMC7656455 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19276-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms are employed to mine economically important elements from rocks, including the rare earth elements (REEs), used in electronic industries and alloy production. We carried out a mining experiment on the International Space Station to test hypotheses on the bioleaching of REEs from basaltic rock in microgravity and simulated Mars and Earth gravities using three microorganisms and a purposely designed biomining reactor. Sphingomonas desiccabilis enhanced mean leached concentrations of REEs compared to non-biological controls in all gravity conditions. No significant difference in final yields was observed between gravity conditions, showing the efficacy of the process under different gravity regimens. Bacillus subtilis exhibited a reduction in bioleaching efficacy and Cupriavidus metallidurans showed no difference compared to non-biological controls, showing the microbial specificity of the process, as on Earth. These data demonstrate the potential for space biomining and the principles of a reactor to advance human industry and mining beyond Earth. Rare earth elements are used in electronics, but increase in demand could lead to low supply. Here the authors conduct experiments on the International Space Station and show microbes can extract rare elements from rocks at low gravity, a finding that could extend mining potential to other planets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Rosa Santomartino
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kai Finster
- Department of Bioscience-Microbiology, Ny Munkegade 116, Building 1540, 129, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Annemiek C Waajen
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lorna J Eades
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, Köln, Germany
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, Köln, Germany
| | - Felix M Fuchs
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe, Köln, Germany.,Institute of Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Sciences, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rob Van Houdt
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Natalie Leys
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ilse Coninx
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Jason Hatton
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | | | - Jutta Krause
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | | | - Nicol Caplin
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Fabrizio Carubia
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Giacomo Luciani
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Michele Balsamo
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Valfredo Zolesi
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Claire-Marie Loudon
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jeannine Doswald-Winkler
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9, 6052, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Herová
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9, 6052, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Rattenbacher
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9, 6052, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | | | - R Craig Everroad
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - René Demets
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, Netherlands
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22
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Santomartino R, Waajen AC, de Wit W, Nicholson N, Parmitano L, Loudon CM, Moeller R, Rettberg P, Fuchs FM, Van Houdt R, Finster K, Coninx I, Krause J, Koehler A, Caplin N, Zuijderduijn L, Zolesi V, Balsamo M, Mariani A, Pellari SS, Carubia F, Luciani G, Leys N, Doswald-Winkler J, Herová M, Wadsworth J, Everroad RC, Rattenbacher B, Demets R, Cockell CS. No Effect of Microgravity and Simulated Mars Gravity on Final Bacterial Cell Concentrations on the International Space Station: Applications to Space Bioproduction. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:579156. [PMID: 33154740 PMCID: PMC7591705 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.579156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms perform countless tasks on Earth and they are expected to be essential for human space exploration. Despite the interest in the responses of bacteria to space conditions, the findings on the effects of microgravity have been contradictory, while the effects of Martian gravity are nearly unknown. We performed the ESA BioRock experiment on the International Space Station to study microbe-mineral interactions in microgravity, simulated Mars gravity and simulated Earth gravity, as well as in ground gravity controls, with three bacterial species: Sphingomonas desiccabilis, Bacillus subtilis, and Cupriavidus metallidurans. To our knowledge, this was the first experiment to study simulated Martian gravity on bacteria using a space platform. Here, we tested the hypothesis that different gravity regimens can influence the final cell concentrations achieved after a multi-week period in space. Despite the different sedimentation rates predicted, we found no significant differences in final cell counts and optical densities between the three gravity regimens on the ISS. This suggests that possible gravity-related effects on bacterial growth were overcome by the end of the experiment. The results indicate that microbial-supported bioproduction and life support systems can be effectively performed in space (e.g., Mars), as on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Santomartino
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Annemiek C Waajen
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Wessel de Wit
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Parmitano
- European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Claire-Marie Loudon
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne (Köln), Germany
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne (Köln), Germany
| | - Felix M Fuchs
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne (Köln), Germany
| | - Rob Van Houdt
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Kai Finster
- Department of Biology - Microbiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Ilse Coninx
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Jutta Krause
- European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Andrea Koehler
- European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Nicol Caplin
- European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Lobke Zuijderduijn
- European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Natalie Leys
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Magdalena Herová
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik und Architektur, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Wadsworth
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, CA, United States
| | - R Craig Everroad
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, CA, United States
| | - Bernd Rattenbacher
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik und Architektur, Hergiswil, Switzerland
| | - René Demets
- European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Biodismantling, a Novel Application of Bioleaching in Recycling of Electronic Wastes. RECYCLING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/recycling5030022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Electronic components (EC) from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) such as resistors, capacitors, diodes and integrated circuits are a subassembly of printed circuit boards (PCB). They contain a variety of economically valuable elements e.g., tantalum, palladium, gold, and rare earth elements. However, until recently there has been no systematic dismantling and recycling of the EC to satisfy the demand for raw materials. A problem connected with the recycling of the EC is the removal of the components (dismantling) in order to recover the elements in later processing steps. The aim of the present study was to develop a new technique of dismantling using bioleaching technology to lower costs and environmental impact. In triplicate batch experiments, used PCBs were treated by bioleaching using an iron-oxidizing mixed culture largely dominated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains supplemented with 20 mM ferrous iron sulfate at pH 1.8 and 30 °C for 20 days. Abiotic controls were treated by similar conditions in two different variations: 20 mM of Fe2+ and 15 mM of Fe3+. After 20 days, successful dismantling was obtained in both the bioleaching and the Fe3+ control batch. The control with Fe2+ did not show a significant effect. The bioleaching condition presented a lower rate of dismantling which can partially be explained by a constantly higher redox potential leading to a competition of solder leaching and copper leaching from the printed copper wires. The results showed that biodismantling—dismantling using bioleaching—is possible and can be a new unit operation of the recycling process to maximize the recovery of valuable metals from PCBs.
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Huynh D, Norambuena J, Boldt C, Kaschabek SR, Levicán G, Schlömann M. Effect of Sodium Chloride on Pyrite Bioleaching and Initial Attachment by Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:2102. [PMID: 33013767 PMCID: PMC7516052 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.02102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomining applies microorganisms to extract valuable metals from usually sulfidic ores. However, acidophilic iron (Fe)-oxidizing bacteria tend to be sensitive to chloride ions which may be present in biomining operations. This study investigates the bioleaching of pyrite (FeS2), as well as the attachment to FeS2 by Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans DSM 9293T in the presence of elevated sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations. The bacteria were still able to oxidize iron in the presence of up to 0.6M NaCl (35 g/L), and the addition of NaCl in concentrations up to 0.2M (~12 g/L) did not inhibit iron oxidation and growth of S. thermosulfidooxidans in leaching cultures within the first 7 days. However, after approximately 7 days of incubation, ferrous iron (Fe2+) concentrations were gradually increased in leaching assays with NaCl, indicating that iron oxidation activity over time was reduced in those assays. Although the inhibition by 0.1M NaCl (~6 g/L) of bacterial growth and iron oxidation activity was not evident at the beginning of the experiment, over extended leaching duration NaCl was likely to have an inhibitory effect. Thus, after 36 days of the experiment, bioleaching of FeS2 with 0.1M NaCl was reduced significantly in comparison to control assays without NaCl. Pyrite dissolution decreased with the increase of NaCl. Nevertheless, pyrite bioleaching by S. thermosulfidooxidans was still possible at NaCl concentrations as high as 0.4M (~23 g/L NaCl). Besides, cell attachment in the presence of different concentrations of NaCl was investigated. Cells of S. thermosulfidooxidans attached heterogeneously on pyrite surfaces regardless of NaCl concentration. Noticeably, bacteria were able to adhere to pyrite surfaces in the presence of NaCl as high as 0.4M. Although NaCl addition inhibited iron oxidation activity and bioleaching of FeS2, the presence of 0.2M seemed to enhance bacterial attachment of S. thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite surfaces in comparison to attachment without NaCl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieu Huynh
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Javiera Norambuena
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Christin Boldt
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Stefan R. Kaschabek
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Gloria Levicán
- Biology Department, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Michael Schlömann
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
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Yin L, Yang HY, Tong LL, Ma PC, Zhang Q, Zhao MM. Arsenopyrite Bio-Oxidization Behavior in Bioleaching Process: Evidence From Laser Microscopy, SEM-EDS, and XPS. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1773. [PMID: 32849397 PMCID: PMC7417448 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In arsenopyrite bioleaching, the interfacial reaction between mineral and cells is one of the most important factors. The energy of the interface is influenced by the mineralogical and microbiological characteristics. In this paper, the interfacial energy was calculated, and the surface of arsenopyrite during the bioleaching process was characterized by 3D laser microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, in order to assess the dissolution and oxidation behavior of arsenopyrite during bioleaching. The results showed that the contact angles of arsenopyrite were 22 ± 2° when covered with biofilms, but the reaction surface of arsenopyrite turned 103 ± 2°. However, the angle was 45–50° when covered by passive layer, which was half as that of arsenopyrite surface. The interfacial energy of arsenopyrite without biofilms increased from 45 to 62 mJ/m2, while it decreased to 5 ± 1 mJ/m2 when covered by biofilms during the leaching process. The surface was separated into fresh surface, oxidized surface, and (corrosion) pits. The interfacial energy was influenced by the fresh and oxidized surfaces. Surface roughness increased from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 5.89 ± 1.97 μm, and dissolution volume increased from 6.31 ± 0.47 × 104 to 2.72 ± 0.49 × 106 μm3. The dissolution kinetics of arsenopyrite followed the model of Kt = lnX, and the dissolution mechanisms were mixed controlled: surface reaction control and diffusion through sulfur layer. On the surface of arsenopyrite crystal, the oxidation steps of each element can be described as: for Fe, Fe(II)–(AsS)→Fe(III)–(AsS)→Fe(III)–OH or Fe(III)–SO; for S, As–S(-1) or Fe–S(-1)→polysulfide S→intermediate S–O→sulfate; and for As, As–1–S→As0→As+1–O→As+3–O→As+5–O.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Yin
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Metallurgy of Multimetallic Mineral (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.,School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hong-Ying Yang
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Metallurgy of Multimetallic Mineral (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.,School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lin-Lin Tong
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Metallurgy of Multimetallic Mineral (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.,School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | | | - Qin Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Metallurgy of Multimetallic Mineral (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.,School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Miao-Miao Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Ecological Metallurgy of Multimetallic Mineral (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.,School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
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Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Kinnikinic Quartzite at the Arco Hills Silica and Gold Project in Butte County, Idaho: Results of an Ore Quality Spot Check and Implications for Potential Plasma Furnace Processing. MINERALS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/min10060523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Plasma furnace processing has the potential to transform solar cell production. If informed decisions regarding silicon ore and mineral exploration can be made such that waste streams are also of high economic value, then production is ultimately more environmentally integrated. This study presents results from a spot check of the Kinnikinic Quartzite, ~4.5 km east of Arco, Butte County, Idaho (43.639091°, −113.243295°), for ore quality. The mineralogical and geochemical characteristics are explored within the context of a planned plasma furnace project at the sampled site and are compared to previous consulting reports. X-ray diffraction analysis detected only quartz, while scanning electron microscopy identified quartz grains, secondary quartz cement, trace amounts of potassium feldspar, minor iron oxides, and secondary illite. The bulk chemical characterization of 20 samples (including repeats) reports several wt. % variation in SiO2 from 96.47 to 99.66. Other notable chemical components include Al2O3, K2O, CaO, and Rb, all consistent with the presence of potassium feldspar (and illite). Gold concentrations vary from below detection (n = 12 out of 20) to a maximum concentration of 0.086 ppm. Total sum REE concentrations vary from 13 to 143 ppm. Conservatively and optimistically, assuming ideal extraction and recovery in plasma furnace operation, a resulting waste stream would have approximately 15.2 ppm (0.488 oz./metric ton) gold and 3400 ppm REE in the average waste. Gold (and REE extraction) may, however, be complicated by the presence of Fe and Cu if cyanide approaches were implemented. Gold concentrations are significantly lower than reported in previous work, warranting further characterization of this unit locally and regionally in order to characterize ore potential. This study works to demonstrate the possibility of evaluating other potential silicon ore units, such as the St. Peter Sandstone in Illinois and Missouri, for the co-production of materials in support of an emerging green economy.
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Liang X, Perez MAM, Zhang S, Song W, Armstrong JG, Bullock LA, Feldmann J, Parnell J, Csetenyi L, Gadd GM. Fungal transformation of selenium and tellurium located in a volcanogenic sulfide deposit. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:2346-2364. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xinjin Liang
- Geomicrobiology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee Dundee DD1 5EH Scotland UK
| | - Magali Aude Marie‐Jeanne Perez
- Trace Element Speciation Laboratory (TESLA), Department of Chemistry King's College, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen Aberdeen AB24 3UE Scotland UK
| | - Shuai Zhang
- School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee Dundee DD1 4HN Scotland UK
| | - Wenjuan Song
- Geomicrobiology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee Dundee DD1 5EH Scotland UK
- Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences Urumqi 830011 China
| | - Joseph Graham Armstrong
- Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology King's College, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen AB24 3UE Aberdeen, Scotland UK
| | - Liam Adam Bullock
- Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology King's College, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen AB24 3UE Aberdeen, Scotland UK
| | - Jörg Feldmann
- Trace Element Speciation Laboratory (TESLA), Department of Chemistry King's College, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen Aberdeen AB24 3UE Scotland UK
| | - John Parnell
- Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology King's College, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen AB24 3UE Aberdeen, Scotland UK
| | - Laszlo Csetenyi
- Concrete Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering University of Dundee Dundee, Scotland UK
| | - Geoffrey Michael Gadd
- Geomicrobiology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee Dundee DD1 5EH Scotland UK
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Pollution Control College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum 18 Fuxue Road, Changping District, 18 Fuxue Road, Changping District, Beijing 102249 China
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Zhang R, Neu TR, Li Q, Blanchard V, Zhang Y, Schippers A, Sand W. Insight Into Interactions of Thermoacidophilic Archaea With Elemental Sulfur: Biofilm Dynamics and EPS Analysis. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:896. [PMID: 31133998 PMCID: PMC6524610 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biooxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) by thermoacidophiles is of particular interest for the biomining industry and for environmental issues, e.g., formation of acid mine drainage (AMD). Up to now, interfacial interactions of acidophiles with elemental sulfur as well as the mechanisms of sulfur oxidation by acidophiles, especially thermoacidophiles, are not yet fully clear. This work focused on how a crenarchaeal isolate Acidianus sp. DSM 29099 interacts with elemental sulfur. Analysis by Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) in combination with Epifluorescence microscopy (EFM) shows that biofilms on elemental sulfur are characterized by single colonies and a monolayer in first stage and later on 3-D structures with a diameter of up to 100 μm. The analysis of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by a non-destructive lectin approach (fluorescence lectin-barcoding analysis) using several fluorochromes shows that intial attachment was featured by footprints rich in biofilm cells that were embedded in an EPS matrix consisting of various glycoconjugates. Wet chemistry data indicate that carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and uronic acids are the main components. Attenuated reflectance (ATR)-Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAE-PAD) indicate glucose and mannose as the main monosaccharides in EPS polysaccharides. EPS composition as well as sugar types in EPS vary according to substrate (sulfur or tetrathionate) and lifestyle (biofilms and planktonic cells). This study provides information on the building blocks/make up as well as dynamics of biofilms of thermoacidophilic archaea in extremely acidic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyong Zhang
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hanover, Germany
- Biofilm Centre, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas R. Neu
- Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Qian Li
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Véronique Blanchard
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yutong Zhang
- Biofilm Centre, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Axel Schippers
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hanover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Sand
- Biofilm Centre, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
- TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
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30
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Borilova S, Mandl M, Zeman J, Kucera J, Pakostova E, Janiczek O, Tuovinen OH. Can Sulfate Be the First Dominant Aqueous Sulfur Species Formed in the Oxidation of Pyrite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans? Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3134. [PMID: 30619202 PMCID: PMC6305575 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the literature, pyrite (FeS2) oxidation has been previously determined to involve thiosulfate as the first aqueous intermediate sulfur product, which is further oxidized to sulfate. In the present study, pyrite oxidation by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was studied using electrochemical and metabolic approaches in an effort to extend existing knowledge on the oxidation mechanism. Due to the small surface area, the reaction rate of a compact pyrite electrode in the form of polycrystalline pyrite aggregate in A. ferrooxidans suspension was very slow at a spontaneously formed high redox potential. The slow rate made it possible to investigate the oxidation process in detail over a term of 100 days. Using electrochemical parameters from polarization curves and levels of released iron, the number of exchanged electrons per pyrite molecule was estimated. The values close to 14 and 2 electrons were determined for the oxidation with and without bacteria, respectively. These results indicated that sulfate was the dominant first aqueous sulfur species formed in the presence of bacteria and elemental sulfur was predominantly formed without bacteria. The stoichiometric calculations are consistent with high iron-oxidizing activities of bacteria that continually keep the released iron in the ferric form, resulting in a high redox potential. The sulfur entity of pyrite was oxidized to sulfate by Fe3+ without intermediate thiosulfate under these conditions. Cell attachment on the corroded pyrite electrode surface was documented although pyrite surface corrosion by Fe3+ was evident without bacterial participation. Attached cells may be important in initiating the oxidation of the pyrite surface to release iron from the mineral. During the active phase of oxidation of a pyrite concentrate sample, the ATP levels in attached and planktonic bacteria were consistent with previously established ATP content of iron-oxidizing cells. No significant upregulation of three essential genes involved in energy metabolism of sulfur compounds was observed in the planktonic cells, which represented the dominant biomass in the pyrite culture. The study demonstrated the formation of sulfate as the first dissolved sulfur species with iron-oxidizing bacteria under high redox potential conditions. Minor aqueous sulfur intermediates may be formed but as a result of side reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarka Borilova
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martin Mandl
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Josef Zeman
- Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jiri Kucera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Eva Pakostova
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Oldrich Janiczek
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Olli H Tuovinen
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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31
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Straub CT, Counts JA, Nguyen DMN, Wu CH, Zeldes BM, Crosby JR, Conway JM, Otten JK, Lipscomb GL, Schut GJ, Adams MWW, Kelly RM. Biotechnology of extremely thermophilic archaea. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 42:543-578. [PMID: 29945179 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuy012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the extremely thermophilic archaea (Topt ≥ 70°C) may be the most primitive extant forms of life, they have been studied to a limited extent relative to mesophilic microorganisms. Many of these organisms have unique biochemical and physiological characteristics with important biotechnological implications. These include methanogens that generate methane, fermentative anaerobes that produce hydrogen gas with high efficiency, and acidophiles that can mobilize base, precious and strategic metals from mineral ores. Extremely thermophilic archaea have also been a valuable source of thermoactive, thermostable biocatalysts, but their use as cellular systems has been limited because of the general lack of facile genetics tools. This situation has changed recently, however, thereby providing an important avenue for understanding their metabolic and physiological details and also opening up opportunities for metabolic engineering efforts. Along these lines, extremely thermophilic archaea have recently been engineered to produce a variety of alcohols and industrial chemicals, in some cases incorporating CO2 into the final product. There are barriers and challenges to these organisms reaching their full potential as industrial microorganisms but, if these can be overcome, a new dimension for biotechnology will be forthcoming that strategically exploits biology at high temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Straub
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - James A Counts
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Diep M N Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Chang-Hao Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Benjamin M Zeldes
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - James R Crosby
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Jonathan M Conway
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Jonathan K Otten
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Gina L Lipscomb
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Gerrit J Schut
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Michael W W Adams
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Robert M Kelly
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
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Identification of trehalose as a compatible solute in different species of acidophilic bacteria. J Microbiol 2018; 56:727-733. [PMID: 30267316 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-018-8176-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The major industrial heap bioleaching processes are located in desert regions (mainly Chile and Australia) where fresh water is scarce and the use of resources with low water activity becomes an attractive alternative. However, in spite of the importance of the microbial populations involved in these processes, little is known about their response or adaptation to osmotic stress. In order to investigate the response to osmotic stress in these microorganisms, six species of acidophilic bacteria were grown at elevated osmotic strength in liquid media, and the compatible solutes synthesised were identified using ion chromatography and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Trehalose was identified as one of, or the sole, compatible solute in all species and strains, apart from Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans where glucose and proline levels increased at elevated osmotic potentials. Several other potential compatible solutes were tentatively identified by MALDITOF analysis. The same compatible solutes were produced by these bacteria regardless of the salt used to produce the osmotic stress. The results correlate with data from sequenced genomes which confirm that many chemolithotrophic and heterotrophic acidophiles possess genes for trehalose synthesis. This is the first report to identify and quantify compatible solutes in acidophilic bacteria that have important roles in biomining technologies.
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33
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Reed KB, Alper HS. Expanding beyond canonical metabolism: Interfacing alternative elements, synthetic biology, and metabolic engineering. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2018; 3:20-33. [PMID: 29911196 PMCID: PMC5884228 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic engineering offers an exquisite capacity to produce new molecules in a renewable manner. However, most industrial applications have focused on only a small subset of elements from the periodic table, centered around carbon biochemistry. This review aims to illustrate the expanse of chemical elements that can currently (and potentially) be integrated into useful products using cellular systems. Specifically, we describe recent advances in expanding the cellular scope to include the halogens, selenium and the metalloids, and a variety of metal incorporations. These examples range from small molecules, heteroatom-linked uncommon elements, and natural products to biomining and nanotechnology applications. Collectively, this review covers the promise of an expanded range of elemental incorporations and the future impacts it may have on biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin B. Reed
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 200E Dean Keeton St. Stop C0400, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Hal S. Alper
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 200E Dean Keeton St. Stop C0400, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 2500 Speedway Avenue, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Razmilic V, Castro JF, Marchant F, Asenjo JA, Andrews B. Metabolic modelling and flux analysis of microorganisms from the Atacama Desert used in biotechnological processes. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2018; 111:1479-1491. [DOI: 10.1007/s10482-018-1031-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Identification of Heterotrophic Zinc Mobilization Processes among Bacterial Strains Isolated from Wheat Rhizosphere (Triticum aestivum L.). Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 84:AEM.01715-17. [PMID: 29079619 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01715-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil and plant inoculation with heterotrophic zinc-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) is considered a promising approach for increasing zinc (Zn) phytoavailability and enhancing crop growth and nutritional quality. Nevertheless, it is necessary to understand the underlying bacterial solubilization processes to predict their repeatability in inoculation strategies. Acidification via gluconic acid production remains the most reported process. In this study, wheat rhizosphere soil serial dilutions were plated on several solid microbiological media supplemented with scarcely soluble Zn oxide (ZnO), and 115 putative Zn-solubilizing isolates were directly detected based on the formation of solubilization halos around the colonies. Eight strains were selected based on their Zn solubilization efficiency and siderophore production capacity. These included one strain of Curtobacterium, two of Plantibacter, three strains of Pseudomonas, one of Stenotrophomonas, and one strain of Streptomyces In ZnO liquid solubilization assays, the presence of glucose clearly stimulated organic acid production, leading to medium acidification and ZnO solubilization. While solubilization by Streptomyces and Curtobacterium was attributed to the accumulated production of six and seven different organic acids, respectively, the other strains solubilized Zn via gluconic, malonic, and oxalic acids exclusively. In contrast, in the absence of glucose, ZnO dissolution resulted from proton extrusion (e.g., via ammonia consumption by Plantibacter strains) and complexation processes (i.e., complexation with glutamic acid in cultures of Curtobacterium). Therefore, while gluconic acid production was described as a major Zn solubilization mechanism in the literature, this study goes beyond and shows that solubilization mechanisms vary among ZSB and are strongly affected by growth conditions.IMPORTANCE Barriers toward a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying zinc (Zn) solubilization by bacteria include the lack of methodological tools for isolation, discrimination, and identification of such organisms. Our study proposes a direct bacterial isolation procedure, which prevents the need to screen numerous bacterial candidates (for which the ability to solubilize Zn is unknown) for recovering Zn-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB). Moreover, we confirm the potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as a quick and accurate tool for the identification and discrimination of environmental bacterial isolates. This work also describes various Zn solubilization processes used by wheat rhizosphere bacteria, including proton extrusion and the production of different organic acids among bacterial strains. These processes were also clearly affected by growth conditions (i.e., solid versus liquid cultures and the presence and absence of glucose). Although highlighted mechanisms may have significant effects at the soil-plant interface, these should only be transposed cautiously to real ecological situations.
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Multiple mining impacts induce widespread changes in ecosystem dynamics in a boreal lake. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10581. [PMID: 28874843 PMCID: PMC5585241 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11421-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to satisfy the needs of constant economic growth, the pressure to exploit natural resources has increased. Since accessible mineral resources are becoming scarce, the mining industry is constantly looking for novel techniques to allow commercial exploitation of lower-grade deposits. However, mining can have considerable impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Here, we present the ecological damage inflicted by mine water originating from the massive Terrafame Talvivaara polymetal mine (central Finland), where bioheap leaching is being applied to high-sulphur low-grade ore. We found that saline mine water has turned the lake meromictic, and sediment is heavily contaminated. As a result, important zooplankton and phytoplankton groups have been significantly altered. As the exploitation of poor-grade deposits is the future of the mining industry globally, water management should be taken to a higher level in order to proceed towards a sustainable mining sector.
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Draft Genome Sequence of Magnesium-Dissolving Lactococcus garvieae A1, Isolated from Soil. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2017; 5:5/21/e00386-17. [PMID: 28546485 PMCID: PMC5477398 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00386-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The probiotic bacterium
Lactococcus garvieae
A1, isolated from soil, is interesting for biomining applications. Here, we report the draft genome sequence and annotation of this strain, with a focus on metal transporter enzymes.
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Donati ER, Castro C, Urbieta MS. Thermophilic microorganisms in biomining. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 32:179. [PMID: 27628339 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-016-2140-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Biomining is an applied biotechnology for mineral processing and metal extraction from ores and concentrates. This alternative technology for recovering metals involves the hydrometallurgical processes known as bioleaching and biooxidation where the metal is directly solubilized or released from the matrix for further solubilization, respectively. Several commercial applications of biomining can be found around the world to recover mainly copper and gold but also other metals; most of them are operating at temperatures below 40-50 °C using mesophilic and moderate thermophilic microorganisms. Although biomining offers an economically viable and cleaner option, its share of the world´s production of metals has not grown as much as it was expected, mainly considering that due to environmental restrictions in many countries smelting and roasting technologies are being eliminated. The slow rate of biomining processes is for sure the main reason of their poor implementation. In this scenario the use of thermophiles could be advantageous because higher operational temperature would increase the rate of the process and in addition it would eliminate the energy input for cooling the system (bioleaching reactions are exothermic causing a serious temperature increase in bioreactors and inside heaps that adversely affects most of the mesophilic microorganisms) and it would decrease the passivation of mineral surfaces. In the last few years many thermophilic bacteria and archaea have been isolated, characterized, and even used for extracting metals. This paper reviews the current status of biomining using thermophiles, describes the main characteristics of thermophilic biominers and discusses the future for this biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgardo Rubén Donati
- CINDEFI (CCT LA PLATA-CONICET, UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas (UNLP), 47 y 115, (1900) La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Camila Castro
- CINDEFI (CCT LA PLATA-CONICET, UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas (UNLP), 47 y 115, (1900) La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Sofía Urbieta
- CINDEFI (CCT LA PLATA-CONICET, UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas (UNLP), 47 y 115, (1900) La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Menezes AA, Montague MG, Cumbers J, Hogan JA, Arkin AP. Grand challenges in space synthetic biology. J R Soc Interface 2016; 12:20150803. [PMID: 26631337 PMCID: PMC4707852 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Space synthetic biology is a branch of biotechnology dedicated to engineering biological systems for space exploration, industry and science. There is significant public and private interest in designing robust and reliable organisms that can assist on long-duration astronaut missions. Recent work has also demonstrated that such synthetic biology is a feasible payload minimization and life support approach as well. This article identifies the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the field of space synthetic biology, while highlighting relevant progress. It also outlines anticipated broader benefits from this field, because space engineering advances will drive technological innovation on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amor A Menezes
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-5230, USA
| | - Michael G Montague
- Applications of Vital Knowledge, 113 Chestnut Hill Way, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - John Cumbers
- NASA Ames Space Portal, NASA Ames Research Center, MS 555-2, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - John A Hogan
- Bioengineering Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, MS 239-15, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Adam P Arkin
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-5230, USA E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, MS955-512 L, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Kocaman AT, Cemek M, Edwards KJ. Kinetics of pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite dissolution byAcidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Can J Microbiol 2016; 62:629-42. [DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2016-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to investigate the dissolution kinetics of pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite. Crushed minerals were reacted with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (25 °C). The kinetics of dissolution was investigated by monitoring pH and Fe2+and Fe3+ion concentrations in the leaching solutions. Pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite dissolution by A. ferrooxidans was found to be a chemically controlled process. With bacteria, the dissolution rates of the minerals increased in the order of pyrrhotite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. The number of cells attached to mineral surfaces increased in the same order. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was found to enhance the dissolution rates of the minerals. The acid-insoluble trait of pyrite and acid-soluble trait of the other 2 minerals affected the pH changes in the leaching solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Tuba Kocaman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Yildiz Technical University, 34210 Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Cemek
- Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Yildiz Technical University, 34210 Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Katrina Jane Edwards
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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Ullrich SR, González C, Poehlein A, Tischler JS, Daniel R, Schlömann M, Holmes DS, Mühling M. Gene Loss and Horizontal Gene Transfer Contributed to the Genome Evolution of the Extreme Acidophile "Ferrovum". Front Microbiol 2016; 7:797. [PMID: 27303384 PMCID: PMC4886054 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD), associated with active and abandoned mining sites, is a habitat for acidophilic microorganisms that gain energy from the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds and ferrous iron and that thrive at pH below 4. Members of the recently proposed genus “Ferrovum” are the first acidophilic iron oxidizers to be described within the Betaproteobacteria. Although they have been detected as typical community members in AMD habitats worldwide, knowledge of their phylogenetic and metabolic diversity is scarce. Genomics approaches appear to be most promising in addressing this lacuna since isolation and cultivation of “Ferrovum” has proven to be extremely difficult and has so far only been successful for the designated type strain “Ferrovum myxofaciens” P3G. In this study, the genomes of two novel strains of “Ferrovum” (PN-J185 and Z-31) derived from water samples of a mine water treatment plant were sequenced. These genomes were compared with those of “Ferrovum” sp. JA12 that also originated from the mine water treatment plant, and of the type strain (P3G). Phylogenomic scrutiny suggests that the four strains represent three “Ferrovum” species that cluster in two groups (1 and 2). Comprehensive analysis of their predicted metabolic pathways revealed that these groups harbor characteristic metabolic profiles, notably with respect to motility, chemotaxis, nitrogen metabolism, biofilm formation and their potential strategies to cope with the acidic environment. For example, while the “F. myxofaciens” strains (group 1) appear to be motile and diazotrophic, the non-motile group 2 strains have the predicted potential to use a greater variety of fixed nitrogen sources. Furthermore, analysis of their genome synteny provides first insights into their genome evolution, suggesting that horizontal gene transfer and genome reduction in the group 2 strains by loss of genes encoding complete metabolic pathways or physiological features contributed to the observed diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie R Ullrich
- Institute of Biological Sciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg Freiberg, Germany
| | - Carolina González
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida and Depto. de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andres BelloSantiago, Chile; Bio-Computing and Applied Genetics Division, Fraunhofer Chile Research Foundation, Center for Systems BiotechnologySantiago, Chile
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Georg-August Universität Göttingen Göttingen, Germany
| | - Judith S Tischler
- Institute of Biological Sciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg Freiberg, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Georg-August Universität Göttingen Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Schlömann
- Institute of Biological Sciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg Freiberg, Germany
| | - David S Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida and Depto. de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andres Bello Santiago, Chile
| | - Martin Mühling
- Institute of Biological Sciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg Freiberg, Germany
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Dyp-Type Peroxidase (DypA) from the Bioleaching Acidophilic Bacterium Leptospirillum ferriphilum DSM 14647. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1130.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirillum
ferriphilum is an acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium that is relevant for chemical leaching of sulfide ores. In the extremely acidic conditions found in bioleaching operations, this microorganism deals with an abundant supply of soluble iron and other metals that might induce oxidative damage to biomolecules through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We evaluated the role of Dyp-type peroxidase in the protection against oxidative stress in L. ferriphilum DSM14647. The genetic region encoding dypA was cloned and sequenced. The predicted DypA enzyme is 295 amino acids long with an estimated molecular mass of 32.9 kDa containing a highly conserved peroxide reduction motif. Genetic complementation of catalases/peroxidases-deficient Escherichia coli cells indicated that expression of dypA from L. ferriphilum restored the resistance to hydrogen proxide to levels exhibited by the wild type strain. Exposure of L. ferriphilum to hydrogen peroxide leads to a significant transcriptional activation of dypA suggesting its involvement in the response to oxidative stress in this bacterium. This is the first Dyp-type peroxidase characterized from an acidophilic microorganism, making it a potential candidate for research in basic and applied biology.
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