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Wang L, An X, Xiao X, Li N, Xie D, Lai F, Zhang Q. Treatment of thiocyanate-containing wastewater: a critical review of thiocyanate destruction in industrial effluents. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 39:35. [PMID: 36469179 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-022-03481-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Thiocyanate is a common pollutant in gold mine, textile, printing, dyeing, coking and other industries. Therefore, thiocyanate in industrial wastewater is an urgent problem to be solved. This paper reviews the chemical properties, applications, sources and toxicity of thiocyanate, as well as the various treatment methods for thiocyanate in wastewater and their advantages and disadvantages. It is emphasized that biological systems, ranging from laboratory to full-scale, are able to successfully remove thiocyanate from factories. Thiocyanate-degrading microorganisms degrade thiocyanate in autotrophic manner for energy, while other biodegrading microorganisms use thiocyanate as a carbon or nitrogen source, and the biochemical pathways and enzymes involved in thiocyanate metabolism by different bacteria are discussed in detail. In the future, degradation mechanisms should be investigated at the molecular level, with further research aiming to improve the biochemical understanding of thiocyanate metabolism and scaling up thiocyanate degradation technologies from the laboratory to a full-scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuwei Wang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejiao An
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoshuang Xiao
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Ningjian Li
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong Xie
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Fenju Lai
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Alvillo-Rivera AJ, Garrido-Hoyos SE, Buitrón G. Cyanide treatment of mining tailings using suspended biomass and moving bed biomass reactors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:37458-37470. [PMID: 35066824 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18166-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mexico is the top producer of silver and is on the eighth place from producing gold in the world. For instance, the hydrometallurgical extraction process produces wastewater (mining tailing) characterized by being composed with varying concentrations of cyanide and heavy metals. The purpose of this research was to study the biodegradation of cyanide contained in mining tailings by means of a bacterial consortium isolated from a tailings dam. For this purpose, three types of Eckendfelder reactors were used, one with suspended biomass (BS) and two moving bed biofilter reactors, one with biomass immobilized on Kaldnes (BK) supports, and the other on polyurethane cubes (BCP). Three experimental stages were worked; in each of them, the concentrations of total cyanide were varied. In the first one, it was 26 ± 2 mg·L-1; in the second one 40 ± 4 mg·L-1; and the third one 55 ± 4 mg·L-1. During the whole operation, the pH and temperature were maintained at 9.5 units and 25 °C. After 141 days of operation, biodegradation of the total cyanide contained in the mining tailings was 69% (17 mg·L-1) in the BS reactor, while in the BK reactor, it was 93% (3.9 mg·L-1) and in the BCP reactor 95% (2.5 mg·L-1). The predominant families in each of the reactors, as well as their respective relative abundances, were for the BS and for the BK of Cyclobacteriaceae (20.65% and 24.64%) and Rhizobiaceae (18.48% and 14.01%) and Halomonadaceae (46.97%) and Hyphomonadaceae (24.94%) in the BCP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Julieta Alvillo-Rivera
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Morelos (Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua), Jiutepec, Morelos, México.
| | | | - Germán Buitrón
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
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Saborimanesh N, Walsh D, Yerushalmi L, Arriagada EC, Mulligan CN. Pilot-scale application of a single-stage hybrid airlift BioCAST bioreactor for treatment of ammonium from nitrite-limited wastewater by a partial nitrification/anammox process. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:25573-25582. [PMID: 31267396 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05754-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the treatment of a nitrite-limited wastewater by partial nitrification/anammox process under different dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations of < 1.2 mg/L, < 0.5 mg/L, and 0 mg/L, and at temperatures of 35 to 27 °C in a pilot-scale single-stage hybrid bioreactor (BioCAST). The effect of operational parameters on microbial community structure and composition has also been investigated during the 1-year experimental period. Ammonium removal efficiencies of 73 ± 19% at 35-32 °C and 87 ± 9% at 29-27 °C were obtained from a synthetic nitrite-limited wastewater with ammonium concentration of 350-500 mg/L (175-250 g m-3 d-1). The adaptation of bacteria to a lower temperature (27 °C) and lower free ammonia concentrations at 27 °C was showed to be key factors leading to the optimal nitrite production by aerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). No nitrite accumulation was observed due to the effective distribution and transfer of nitrite produced by the AOB in the aerobic zone to the microaerophilic/anoxic zones. The fast enrichment of Candidatus species in the suspended biomass in the anoxic zone at temperatures of 35-30 °C and in the attached biofilm in the microaerophilic zone (DO < 0.5 mg/L) at 29-27 °C suggests that the growth media (e.g., suspended biomass vs attached biofilm) had a minor effect on the diversity of microbial community in this bioreactor. This study supports the effective treatment of nitrite-limited wastewater with ammonium concentrations of < 500 mg/L by partial nitrification/anammox process at 35-27 °C in a single-stage hybrid bioreactor by adjusting the DO concentration to < 0.5 mg/L and by providing longer retention times for aerobic (AOB) and anammox bacteria in the biofilm, which resulted in the long-term suppression of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayereh Saborimanesh
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - David Walsh
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Laleh Yerushalmi
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Esteban Castillo Arriagada
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Catherine N Mulligan
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada.
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4
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Watts MP, Spurr LP, Lê Cao KA, Wick R, Banfield JF, Moreau JW. Genome-resolved metagenomics of an autotrophic thiocyanate-remediating microbial bioreactor consortium. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 158:106-117. [PMID: 31022528 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.02.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Industrial thiocyanate (SCN-) waste streams from gold mining and coal coking have polluted environments worldwide. Modern SCN- bioremediation involves use of complex engineered heterotrophic microbiomes; little attention has been given to the ability of a simple environmental autotrophic microbiome to biodegrade SCN-. Here we present results from a bioreactor experiment inoculated with SCN- -loaded mine tailings, incubated autotrophically, and subjected to a range of environmentally relevant conditions. Genome-resolved metagenomics revealed that SCN- hydrolase-encoding, sulphur-oxidizing autotrophic bacteria mediated SCN- degradation. These microbes supported metabolically-dependent non-SCN--degrading sulphur-oxidizing autotrophs and non-sulphur oxidizing heterotrophs, and "niche" microbiomes developed spatially (planktonic versus sessile) and temporally (across changing environmental parameters). Bioreactor microbiome structures changed significantly with increasing temperature, shifting from Thiobacilli to a novel SCN- hydrolase-encoding gammaproteobacteria. Transformation of carbonyl sulphide (COS), a key intermediate in global biogeochemical sulphur cycling, was mediated by plasmid-hosted CS2 and COS hydrolase genes associated with Thiobacillus, revealing a potential for horizontal transfer of this function. Our work shows that simple native autotrophic microbiomes from mine tailings can be employed for SCN- bioremediation, thus improving the recycling of ore processing waters and reducing the hydrological footprint of mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew P Watts
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Liam P Spurr
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Kim-Anh Lê Cao
- Melbourne Integrative Genomics and School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Ryan Wick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - John W Moreau
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
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5
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Spurr LP, Watts MP, Gan HM, Moreau JW. Biodegradation of thiocyanate by a native groundwater microbial consortium. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6498. [PMID: 30941266 PMCID: PMC6440457 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Gold ore processing typically generates large amounts of thiocyanate (SCN−)-contaminated effluent. When this effluent is stored in unlined tailings dams, contamination of the underlying aquifer can occur. The potential for bioremediation of SCN−-contaminated groundwater, either in situ or ex situ, remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to enrich and characterise SCN−-degrading microorganisms from mining-contaminated groundwater under a range of culturing conditions. Mildly acidic and suboxic groundwater, containing ∼135 mg L−1 SCN−, was collected from an aquifer below an unlined tailings dam. An SCN−-degrading consortium was enriched from contaminated groundwater using combinatory amendments of air, glucose and phosphate. Biodegradation occurred in all oxic cultures, except with the sole addition of glucose, but was inhibited by NH4+ and did not occur under anoxic conditions. The SCN−-degrading consortium was characterised using 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequencing, identifying a variety of heterotrophic taxa in addition to sulphur-oxidising bacteria. Interestingly, few recognised SCN−-degrading taxa were identified in significant abundance. These results provide both proof-of-concept and the required conditions for biostimulation of SCN− degradation in groundwater by native aquifer microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam P Spurr
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Mathew P Watts
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Han M Gan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - John W Moreau
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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Torresi E, Gülay A, Polesel F, Jensen MM, Christensson M, Smets BF, Plósz BG. Reactor staging influences microbial community composition and diversity of denitrifying MBBRs- Implications on pharmaceutical removal. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 138:333-345. [PMID: 29635164 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The subdivision of biofilm reactor in two or more stages (i.e., reactor staging) represents an option for process optimisation of biological treatment. In our previous work, we showed that the gradient of influent organic substrate availability (induced by the staging) can influence the microbial activity (i.e., denitrification and pharmaceutical biotransformation kinetics) of a denitrifying three-stage Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) system. However, it is unclear whether staging and thus the long-term exposure to varying organic carbon type and loading influences the microbial community structure and diversity. In this study, we investigated biofilm structure and diversity in the three-stage MBBR system (S) compared to a single-stage configuration (U) and their relationship with microbial functions. Results from 16S rRNA amplicon libraries revealed a significantly higher microbial richness in the staged MBBR (at 99% sequence similarity) compared to single-stage MBBR. A more even and diverse microbial community was selected in the last stage of S (S3), likely due to exposure to carbon limitation during continuous-flow operation. A core of OTUs was shared in both systems, consisting of Burkholderiales, Xanthomonadales, Flavobacteriales and Sphingobacteriales, while MBBR staging selected for specific taxa (i.e., Candidate division WS6 and Deinococcales). Results from quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed that S3 exhibited the lowest abundance of 16S rRNA but the highest abundance of atypical nosZ, suggesting a selection of microbes with more diverse N-metabolism (i.e., incomplete denitrifiers) in the stage exposed to the lowest carbon availability. A positive correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between removal rate constants of several pharmaceuticals with abundance of relevant denitrifying genes, but not with biodiversity. Despite the previously suggested positive relationship between microbial diversity and functionality in macrobial and microbial ecosystems, this was not observed in the current study, indicating a need to further investigate structure-function relationships for denitrifying systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Torresi
- DTU Environment, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; Veolia Water Technologies AB, AnoxKaldnes, Klosterängsvägen 11A, SE-226 47 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Arda Gülay
- DTU Environment, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Fabio Polesel
- DTU Environment, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Marlene M Jensen
- DTU Environment, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Magnus Christensson
- Veolia Water Technologies AB, AnoxKaldnes, Klosterängsvägen 11A, SE-226 47 Lund, Sweden
| | - Barth F Smets
- DTU Environment, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Benedek Gy Plósz
- DTU Environment, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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7
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Watts MP, Moreau JW. Thiocyanate biodegradation: harnessing microbial metabolism for mine remediation. MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/ma18047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Thiocyanate (SCN–) forms in the reaction between cyanide (CN–) and reduced sulfur species, e.g. in gold ore processing and coal-coking wastewater streams, where it is present at millimolar (mM) concentrations1. Thiocyanate is also present naturally at nM to µM concentrations in uncontaminated aquatic environments2. Although less toxic than its precursor CN–, SCN– can harm plants and animals at higher concentrations3, and thus needs to be removed from wastewater streams prior to disposal or reuse. Fortunately, SCN– can be biodegraded by microorganisms as a supply of reduced sulfur and nitrogen for energy sources, in addition to nutrients for growth4. Research into how we can best harness the ability of microbes to degrade SCN– may offer newer, more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable treatment solutions5. By studying biodegradation pathways of SCN– in laboratory and field treatment bioreactor systems, we can also gain fundamental insights into connections across the natural biogeochemical cycles of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen6.
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Luque-Almagro VM, Cabello P, Sáez LP, Olaya-Abril A, Moreno-Vivián C, Roldán MD. Exploring anaerobic environments for cyanide and cyano-derivatives microbial degradation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 102:1067-1074. [PMID: 29209795 PMCID: PMC5778177 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8678-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cyanide is one of the most toxic chemicals for living organisms described so far. Its toxicity is mainly based on the high affinity that cyanide presents toward metals, provoking inhibition of essential metalloenzymes. Cyanide and its cyano-derivatives are produced in a large scale by many industrial activities related to recovering of precious metals in mining and jewelry, coke production, steel hardening, synthesis of organic chemicals, and food processing industries. As consequence, cyanide-containing wastes are accumulated in the environment becoming a risk to human health and ecosystems. Cyanide and related compounds, like nitriles and thiocyanate, are degraded aerobically by numerous bacteria, and therefore, biodegradation has been offered as a clean and cheap strategy to deal with these industrial wastes. Anaerobic biological treatments are often preferred options for wastewater biodegradation. However, at present very little is known about anaerobic degradation of these hazardous compounds. This review is focused on microbial degradation of cyanide and related compounds under anaerobiosis, exploring their potential application in bioremediation of industrial cyanide-containing wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor M Luque-Almagro
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Severo Ochoa, 1ª planta, Campus de Rabanales, 14071, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Purificación Cabello
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Celestino Mutis, Campus de Rabanales, 14071, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Lara P Sáez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Severo Ochoa, 1ª planta, Campus de Rabanales, 14071, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alfonso Olaya-Abril
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Severo Ochoa, 1ª planta, Campus de Rabanales, 14071, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Conrado Moreno-Vivián
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Severo Ochoa, 1ª planta, Campus de Rabanales, 14071, Córdoba, Spain
| | - María Dolores Roldán
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Severo Ochoa, 1ª planta, Campus de Rabanales, 14071, Córdoba, Spain.
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Watts MP, Gan HM, Peng LY, Lê Cao KA, Moreau JW. In Situ Stimulation of Thiocyanate Biodegradation through Phosphate Amendment in Gold Mine Tailings Water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:13353-13362. [PMID: 29064247 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Thiocyanate (SCN-) is a contaminant requiring remediation in gold mine tailings and wastewaters globally. Seepage of SCN--contaminated waters into aquifers can occur from unlined or structurally compromised mine tailings storage facilities. A wide variety of microorganisms are known to be capable of biodegrading SCN-; however, little is known regarding the potential of native microbes for in situ SCN- biodegradation, a remediation option that is less costly than engineered approaches. Here we experimentally characterize the principal biogeochemical barrier to SCN- biodegradation for an autotrophic microbial consortium enriched from mine tailings, to arrive at an environmentally realistic assessment of in situ SCN- biodegradation potential. Upon amendment with phosphate, the consortium completely degraded up to ∼10 mM SCN- to ammonium and sulfate, with some evidence of nitrification of the ammonium to nitrate. Although similarly enriched in known SCN--degrading strains of thiobacilli, this consortium differed in its source (mine tailings) and metabolism (autotrophy) from those of previous studies. Our results provide a proof of concept that phosphate limitation may be the principal barrier to in situ SCN- biodegradation in mine tailing waters and also yield new insights into the microbial ecology of in situ SCN- bioremediation involving autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew P Watts
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Han M Gan
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University , Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia , Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- Genomics Facility, Tropical Medicine and Biology Platform, Monash University Malaysia , Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Lee Y Peng
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia , Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- Genomics Facility, Tropical Medicine and Biology Platform, Monash University Malaysia , Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kim-Anh Lê Cao
- Melbourne Integrative Genomics and the School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - John W Moreau
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Broman E, Jawad A, Wu X, Christel S, Ni G, Lopez-Fernandez M, Sundkvist JE, Dopson M. Low temperature, autotrophic microbial denitrification using thiosulfate or thiocyanate as electron donor. Biodegradation 2017; 28:287-301. [PMID: 28577026 PMCID: PMC5500686 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-017-9796-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Wastewaters generated during mining and processing of metal sulfide ores are often acidic (pH < 3) and can contain significant concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium from nitrogen based explosives. In addition, wastewaters from sulfide ore treatment plants and tailings ponds typically contain large amounts of inorganic sulfur compounds, such as thiosulfate and tetrathionate. Release of these wastewaters can lead to environmental acidification as well as an increase in nutrients (eutrophication) and compounds that are potentially toxic to humans and animals. Waters from cyanidation plants for gold extraction will often conjointly include toxic, sulfur containing thiocyanate. More stringent regulatory limits on the release of mining wastes containing compounds such as inorganic sulfur compounds, nitrate, and thiocyanate, along the need to increase production from sulfide mineral mining calls for low cost techniques to remove these pollutants under ambient temperatures (approximately 8 °C). In this study, we used both aerobic and anaerobic continuous cultures to successfully couple inorganic sulfur compound (i.e. thiosulfate and thiocyanate) oxidation for the removal of nitrogenous compounds under neutral to acidic pH at the low temperatures typical for boreal climates. Furthermore, the development of the respective microbial communities was identified over time by DNA sequencing, and found to contain a consortium including populations aligning within Flavobacterium, Thiobacillus, and Comamonadaceae lineages. This is the first study to remediate mining waste waters by coupling autotrophic thiocyanate oxidation to nitrate reduction at low temperatures and acidic pH by means of an identified microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Broman
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Abbtesaim Jawad
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Xiaofen Wu
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.,Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stephan Christel
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Gaofeng Ni
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Margarita Lopez-Fernandez
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | | | - Mark Dopson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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11
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Characterization of an autotrophic bioreactor microbial consortium degrading thiocyanate. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:5889-5901. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8313-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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12
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Mekuto L, Ntwampe SKO, Akcil A. An integrated biological approach for treatment of cyanidation wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 571:711-720. [PMID: 27424119 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The cyanidation process has been, and still remains, a profitable and highly efficient process for the recovery of precious metals from ores. However, this process has contributed to environmental deterioration and potable water reserve contamination due to the discharge of poorly treated, or untreated, cyanide containing wastewater. The process produces numerous cyanide complexes in addition to the gold cyanocomplex. Additionally, the discharge constituents also include hydrogen cyanide (HCN) - metallic complexes with iron, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt and other metals; thiocyanate (SCN); and cyanate (CNO). The fate of these complexes in the environment dictates the degree to which these species pose a threat to living organisms. This paper reviews the impact that the cyanidation process has on the environment, the ecotoxicology of the cyanidation wastewater and the treatment methods that are currently utilised to treat cyanidation wastewater. Furthermore, this review proposes an integrated biological approach for the treatment of the cyanidation process wastewater using microbial consortia that is insensitive and able to degrade cyanide species, in all stages of the proposed process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukhanyo Mekuto
- Bioresource Engineering Research Group (BioERG), Department of Biotechnology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
| | - S K O Ntwampe
- Bioresource Engineering Research Group (BioERG), Department of Biotechnology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.
| | - Ata Akcil
- Mineral-Metal Recovery and Recycling (MMR&R) Research Group, Mineral Processing Div., Dept. of Mining Eng., Suleyman Demirel University, TR32260 Isparta, Turkey
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New insights into the genetic and metabolic diversity of thiocyanate-degrading microbial consortia. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 100:1101-1108. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7161-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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