The biogeochemistry and microbiology of sulfidic mine waste and bioleaching dumps and heaps, and novel Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria

Schippers, Axel; Breuker, Anja; Blazejak, Anna; Bosecker, K.; Kock, Dagmar; Wright, T. L.

doi:10.1016/j.hydromet.2010.01.012

Cited by 154 publications

(130 citation statements)

References 97 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

121

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The presence of bacterial species with closest affiliation to Fe-oxidizer bacteria (Acidithiobacillus spp.) indicates that the microbial oxidation of Fe(II) is a significant biogeochemical process in the sediments of AML 2 as noted in previous studies (e.g., Friedrich et al 2005;Rohwerder and Sand 2007;Ghosh and Dam 2009;Schippers et al 2010;Dopson and Johnson 2012;Chen et al 2013). Insignificant variations in pH, along with observed changes in DO and Fe concentration throughout the water column until a depth of 6 m, also suggest co-occurrences of Fe(II) oxidation and precipitation of Fe(III) minerals buffering pH as reported in various AMLs with pH ranging from 2.59 to 3.79 (Kusel 2003;Peiffer et al 2013;Vithana et al 2015).…”

Section: Geochemical and Biogeochemical Processes In The Water Columnsupporting

confidence: 76%

Generation of Acid Mine Lakes Associated with Abandoned Coal Mines in Northwest Turkey

Yücel

Balcı

Baba

2016

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A total of five acid mine lakes (AMLs) located in northwest Turkey were investigated using combined isotope, molecular, and geochemical techniques to identify geochemical processes controlling and promoting acid formation. All of the investigated lakes showed typical characteristics of an AML with low pH (2.59-3.79) and high electrical conductivity values (1040-6430 lS/cm), in addition to high sulfate (594-5370 mg/l) and metal (aluminum [Al], iron [Fe], manganese [Mn], nickel [Ni], and zinc [Zn]) concentrations. Geochemical and isotope results showed that the acid-generation mechanism and source of sulfate in the lakes can change and depends on the age of the lakes. In the relatively older lakes (AMLs 1 through 3), biogeochemical Fe cycles seem to be the dominant process controlling metal concentration and pH of the water unlike in the younger lakes (AMLs 4 and 5). Bacterial species determined in an older lake (AML 2) indicate that biological oxidation and reduction of Fe and S are the dominant processes in the lakes. Furthermore, O and S isotopes of sulfate indicate that sulfate in the older mine lakes may be a product of much more complex oxidation/dissolution reactions. However, the major source of sulfate in the younger mine lakes is in situ pyrite oxidation catalyzed by Fe(III) produced by way of oxidation of Fe(II). Consistent with this, insignificant fractionation between d 34 S SO 4 and d 34 S FeS 2 values indicated that the oxidation of pyrite, along with dissolution and precipitation reactions of Fe(III) minerals, is the main reason for acid formation in the region. Overall, the results showed that acid generation during early stage formation of an AML associated with pyrite-rich mine waste is primarily controlled by the oxidation of pyrite with Fe cycles becoming the dominant processes regulating pH and metal cycles in the later stages of mine lake development.Acidic and highly metal-loaded effluents (acid mine drainage [AMD]) resulting from the exposure of pyrite and other metal sulfide minerals to weathering conditions are the principal environmental problems faced by the mining industry today (Dold and Spangerberg 2005).The formation mechanisms of AMD (e.g., oxidation of pyrite and other sulfide minerals) has been extensively studied

show abstract

Section: Geochemical and Biogeochemical Processes In The Water Columnsupporting

confidence: 76%

Generation of Acid Mine Lakes Associated with Abandoned Coal Mines in Northwest Turkey

Yücel

Balcı

Baba

2016

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Tailings from mining for metals such as Fe, Cu, Pb, and Zn often contain a high amount of sulfide minerals (mainly pyrite) and during weathering release high amounts of metals, sulfate, and protons in mine drainages [2,3]. Increasing evidence demonstrates that a considerable number of microorganisms can survive in AMD and perform essential ecological functions [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Diversity and Community Assembly across Environmental Gradients in Acid Mine Drainage

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Microorganisms play an important role in weathering sulfide minerals worldwide and thrive in metal-rich and extremely acidic environments in acid mine drainage (AMD). Advanced molecular methods provide in-depth information on the microbial diversity and community dynamics in the AMD-generating environment. Although the diversity is relatively low and in general inversely correlated with the acidity, a considerable number of microbial species have been detected and described in AMD ecosystems. The acidophilic microbial communities dominated by iron/sulfur-oxidizing microbes vary widely in their composition and structure across diverse environmental gradients. Environmental conditions affect the microbial community assembly via direct and indirect interactions with microbes, resulting in an environmentally dependent biogeographic pattern. This article summarizes the latest studies to provide a better understanding of the microbial biodiversity and community assembly in AMD environments.

show abstract

“…Bioleaching can occur in nature and accelerate acidity of ground water and cause serious environmental problems, like acid mine/rock drainage (AMD/ARD) [5,6]. Microorganisms involved in the dissolution of metal sulfides are mainly extremely acidophilic archaea and bacteria, which are able to oxidize reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) and/or iron(II) ions [7,8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on Initial Attachment and Pyrite Leaching by Thermoacidophilic Archaeon Acidianus sp. DSM 29099

Liu

Sand

et al. 2016

Minerals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:At the industrial scale, bioleaching of metal sulfides includes two main technologies, tank leaching and heap leaching. Fluctuations in temperature caused by the exothermic reactions in a heap have a pronounced effect on the growth of microbes and composition of mixed microbial populations. Currently, little is known on the influence of pre-colonized mesophiles or moderate thermophiles on the attachment and bioleaching efficiency by thermophiles. The objective of this study was to investigate the interspecies interactions of the moderate thermophile Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans DSM 9293 T and the thermophile Acidianus sp. DSM 29099 during initial attachment to and dissolution of pyrite. Our results showed that: (1) Acidianus sp. DSM 29099 interacted with S. thermosulfidooxidans T during initial attachment in mixed cultures. In particular, cell attachment was improved in mixed cultures compared to pure cultures alone; however, no improvement of pyrite leaching in mixed cultures compared with pure cultures was observed; (2) active or inactivated cells of S. thermosulfidooxidans T on pyrite inhibited or showed no influence on the initial attachment of Acidianus sp. DSM 29099, respectively, but both promoted its leaching efficiency; (3) S. thermosulfidooxidans T exudates did not enhance the initial attachment of Acidianus sp. DSM 29099 to pyrite, but greatly facilitated its pyrite dissolution efficiency. Our study provides insights into cell-cell interactions between moderate thermophiles and thermophiles and is helpful for understanding of the microbial interactions in a heap leaching environment.

show abstract

The biogeochemistry and microbiology of sulfidic mine waste and bioleaching dumps and heaps, and novel Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria

Cited by 154 publications

References 97 publications

Generation of Acid Mine Lakes Associated with Abandoned Coal Mines in Northwest Turkey

Generation of Acid Mine Lakes Associated with Abandoned Coal Mines in Northwest Turkey

Microbial Diversity and Community Assembly across Environmental Gradients in Acid Mine Drainage

Influence of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on Initial Attachment and Pyrite Leaching by Thermoacidophilic Archaeon Acidianus sp. DSM 29099

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About