The complicated substrates enhance the microbial diversity and zinc leaching efficiency in sphalerite bioleaching system.
This study used an artificial enrichment microbial consortium to examine the effects of different substrate conditions on microbial diversity, composition, and function (e.g., zinc leaching efficiency) through adding pyrite (SP group), chalcopyrite (SC group), or both (SPC group) in sphalerite bioleaching systems. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed that microbial community structures and compositions dramatically changed with additions of pyrite or chalcopyrite during the sphalerite bioleaching process. Shannon diversity index showed a significantly increase in the SP (1.460), SC (1.476), and SPC (1.341) groups compared with control (sphalerite group, 0.624) on day 30, meanwhile, zinc leaching efficiencies were enhanced by about 13.4, 2.9, and 13.2%, respectively. Also, additions of pyrite or chalcopyrite could increase electric potential (ORP) and the concentrations of Fe3+ and H+, which were the main factors shaping microbial community structures by Mantel test analysis. Linear regression analysis showed that ORP, Fe3+ concentration, and pH were significantly correlated to zinc leaching efficiency and microbial diversity. In addition, we found that leaching efficiency showed a positive and significant relationship with microbial diversity. In conclusion, our results showed that the complicated substrates could significantly enhance microbial diversity and activity of function.
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. huazipiaoling.123@163.com.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. huazipiaoling.123@163.com.
Yunhua
Y
Xiao
School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, WeiHai, 264209, China. ydxu@insun.hit.edu.cn.
YongDong
Y
Xu
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. jackdong661@gmail.com.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. jackdong661@gmail.com.
Weiling
W
Dong
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. liangyili@hotmail.com.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. liangyili@hotmail.com.
Yili
Y
Liang
Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, Beijing, 100000, China. fanfenliang@caas.cn.|Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100000, China. fanfenliang@caas.cn.
Fenliang
F
Fan
Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100000, China. zhangxiaoxia@caas.cn.|Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100000, China. zhangxiaoxia@caas.cn.
Xiaoxia
X
Zhang
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. zixuange2010@126.com.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. zixuange2010@126.com.
Xian
X
Zhang
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. 135611006@csu.edu.cn.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. 135611006@csu.edu.cn.
Jiaojiao
J
Niu
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. maliyuan2008@csu.edu.cn.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. maliyuan2008@csu.edu.cn.
Liyuan
L
Ma
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. siyuanshe2014@126.com.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. siyuanshe2014@126.com.
Siyuan
S
She
Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA. zhili.he@ou.edu.
Zhili
Z
He
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. xueduanliu@yahoo.com.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. xueduanliu@yahoo.com.
Xueduan
X
Liu
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. yinhuaqun_cs@sina.com.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. yinhuaqun_cs@sina.com.
Huaqun
H
Yin
D001711:Biotransformation; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C012819:chalcopyrite; C011342:pyrite; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc; C031238:zinc sulfide
16S rRNA gene sequencing; Artificial enrichment microbial consortium; Linear regression analysis; Shannon diversity index; Sphalerite bioleaching