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Bioleaching corresponds to the microbial-catalyzed process of conversion of insoluble metals into soluble forms. As an applied biotechnology globally used, it represents an extremely interesting field of research where omics techniques can be applied in terms of knowledge development, but moreover in terms of process design, control, and optimization. In this mini-review, the current state of genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics of bioleaching and the major impacts of these analytical methods at industrial scale are highlighted. In summary, genomics has been essential in the determination of the biodiversity of leaching processes and for development of conceptual and functional metabolic models. Proteomic impacts are mostly related to microbe-mineral interaction analysis, including copper resistance and biofilm formation. Early steps of metabolomics in the field of bioleaching have shown a significant potential for the use of metabolites as industrial biomarkers. Development directions are given in order to enhance the future impacts of the omics in biohydrometallurgy.

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Bioleaching of copper sulfides is catalyzed by iron-and sulfur-oxidizing acidophilic microorganisms attached to the mineral surface forming a biofilm. However, the link between copper sulfides bioleaching and biofilm formation is not yet fully understood. Understanding the factors that are limiting the bioleaching kinetics for different copper sulfide minerals through exhaustive mineralogical analysis of the mineral surface with concomitant biofilm formation during the leaching process will deliver new process conditions with enhanced kinetics and higher copper recovery. In this work we have developed and standardized a reproducible flow cell method able to mimic heap/dump bioleaching laminar flow conditions to study the mineralogical dynamics by advanced mineralogical analysis including QEMSCAN and SEM-EDS coupled to biofilm formation analysis. Based on this method, the bioleaching mineralogical dynamics of primary copper sulfides (enargite (Cu3AsS4), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and bornite (Cu5FeS4)) have been determined in the presence of biofilm formation. Supported by the observed mineralogical dynamics, different mechanisms of dissolution for bioleaching were observed as well as selective biofilm formation over the mineral surface, showing enhanced conditions for copper recovery.