title: Effects of pyrite and sphalerite on population compositions, dynamics and copper extraction efficiency in chalcopyrite bioleaching process.
abstract: This study used an artificial microbial community with four known moderately thermophilic acidophiles (three bacteria including Acidithiobacillus caldus S1, Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans ST and Leptospirillum ferriphilum YSK, and one archaea, Ferroplasma thermophilum L1) to explore the variation of microbial community structure, composition, dynamics and function (e.g., copper extraction efficiency) in chalcopyrite bioleaching (C) systems with additions of pyrite (CP) or sphalerite (CS). The community compositions and dynamics in the solution and on the ore surface were investigated by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). The results showed that the addition of pyrite or sphalerite changed the microbial community composition and dynamics dramatically during the chalcopyrite bioleaching process. For example, A. caldus (above 60%) was the dominant species at the initial stage in three groups, and at the middle stage, still dominated C group (above 70%), but it was replaced by L. ferriphilum (above 60%) in CP and CS groups; at the final stage, L. ferriphilum dominated C group, while F. thermophilum dominated CP group on the ore surface. Furthermore, the additions of pyrite or sphalerite both made the increase of redox potential (ORP) and the concentrations of Fe3+and H+, which would affect the microbial community compositions and copper extraction efficiency. Additionally, pyrite could enhance copper extraction efficiency (e.g., improving around 13.2% on day 6) during chalcopyrite bioleaching; on the contrary, sphalerite restrained it.
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Yunhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Xueduan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Weiling
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Yili
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Jiaojiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Yabing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Liyuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Huaqun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D042763:Acidithiobacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000068016:Eubacteriales / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D016953:Leptospiraceae / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000502:physiology; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C012819:chalcopyrite; C011342:pyrite; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; C031238:zinc sulfide
keywords: Artificial microbial community; Chalcopyrite bioleaching; Real-time PCR