title: Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria dominate the microbial diversity shift during the pyrite and low-grade pyrolusite bioleaching process.
abstract: The microbial ecology of the pyrite-pyrolusite bioleaching system and its interaction with ore has not been well-described. A 16S rRNA gene clone library was created to evaluate changes in the microbial community at different stages of the pyrite-pyrolusite bioleaching process in a shaken flask. The results revealed that the bacterial community was disturbed after 5 days of the reaction. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences demonstrated that the predominant microorganisms were members of a genus of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, Thiomonas sp., that subsequently remained dominant during the bioleaching process. Compared with iron-oxidizing bacteria, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were more favorable to the pyrite-pyrolusite bioleaching system. Decreased pH due to microbial acid production was an important condition for bioleaching efficiency. Iron-oxidizing bacteria competed for pyrite reduction power with Mn(IV) in pyrolusite under specific conditions. These results extend our knowledge of microbial dynamics during pyrite-pyrolusite bioleaching, which is a key issue to improve commercial applications.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 32, West 7th Road, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin 300308, PR China.
authors.forename: Yifan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yunkang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xingbiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001709:Biotechnology; D015723:Gene Library; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017895:Manganese Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017895:Manganese Compounds; D010087:Oxides; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013440:Sulfides; C011342:pyrite; D008345:Manganese; D013455:Sulfur; D007501:Iron; C016552:manganese dioxide
keywords: 16S rRNA gene clone library; Bioleaching; Pyrite-pyrolusite; Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria