The Influence of Phototrophic Biomass on Fe and S Redox Cycling in an Acid Mine Drainage-Impacted System

Senko, John M.; Bertel, Doug; Quick, T.; Burgos, William D.

doi:10.1007/s10230-010-0123-3

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…A variety of phototrophic microeukaryotes may be present in AMD-impacted setting (Rowe et al, 2007; Sánchez España et al, 2007; Senko et al, 2011), including Euglena mutabilis (Brake et al, 2004; Aguilera et al, 2007; Brake and Hasiotis, 2010), which was the most abundant phototrophic microeukaryotic phylotype detected in the sediments (Figure 5, Table 2). Notably, the abundance of phototrophic microeukaryotic phylotypes was coincident with relatively high DO concentration (Figures 1, 4).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depth-dependent geochemical and microbiological gradients in Fe(III) deposits resulting from coal mine-derived acid mine drainage

et al. 2014

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We evaluated the depth-dependent geochemistry and microbiology of sediments that have developed via the microbially-mediated oxidation of Fe(II) dissolved in acid mine drainage (AMD), giving rise to a 8–10 cm deep “iron mound” that is composed primarily of Fe(III) (hydr)oxide phases. Chemical analyses of iron mound sediments indicated a zone of maximal Fe(III) reducing bacterial activity at a depth of approximately 2.5 cm despite the availability of dissolved O2 at this depth. Subsequently, Fe(II) was depleted at depths within the iron mound sediments that did not contain abundant O2. Evaluations of microbial communities at 1 cm depth intervals within the iron mound sediments using “next generation” nucleic acid sequencing approaches revealed an abundance of phylotypes attributable to acidophilic Fe(II) oxidizing Betaproteobacteria and the chloroplasts of photosynthetic microeukaryotic organisms in the upper 4 cm of the iron mound sediments. While we observed a depth-dependent transition in microbial community structure within the iron mound sediments, phylotypes attributable to Gammaproteobacterial lineages capable of both Fe(II) oxidation and Fe(III) reduction were abundant in sequence libraries (comprising ≥20% of sequences) from all depths. Similarly, abundances of total cells and culturable Fe(II) oxidizing bacteria were uniform throughout the iron mound sediments. Our results indicate that O2 and Fe(III) reduction co-occur in AMD-induced iron mound sediments, but that Fe(II)-oxidizing activity may be sustained in regions of the sediments that are depleted in O2.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depth-dependent geochemical and microbiological gradients in Fe(III) deposits resulting from coal mine-derived acid mine drainage

et al. 2014

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“…Das et al (6) highlighted the significance of eukaryotic microorganisms in mine waters and alluded to the possible role of algae in sustaining populations of SRB. More recently, Senko et al (25) have provided evidence for the role of algae in enhancing iron reduction in AMD environments. Oxygen evolution by acidophilic algae can also influence iron and sulfur cycling and was probably the reason why ferric iron precipitates accumulated immediately below the algal surface layer in TV mesocosms (see Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significance of Microbial Communities and Interactions in Safeguarding Reactive Mine Tailings by Ecological Engineering

Nancucheo

Johnson

2011

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Pyritic mine tailings (mineral waste generated by metal mining) pose significant risk to the environment as point sources of acidic, metal-rich effluents (acid mine drainage [AMD]). While the accelerated oxidative dissolution of pyrite and other sulfide minerals in tailings by acidophilic chemolithotrophic prokaryotes has been widely reported, other acidophiles (heterotrophic bacteria that catalyze the dissimilatory reduction of iron and sulfur) can reverse the reactions involved in AMD genesis, and these have been implicated in the "natural attenuation" of mine waters. We have investigated whether by manipulating microbial communities in tailings (inoculating with iron-and sulfur-reducing acidophilic bacteria and phototrophic acidophilic microalgae) it is possible to mitigate the impact of the acid-generating and metal-mobilizing chemolithotrophic prokaryotes that are indigenous to tailing deposits. Sixty tailings mesocosms were set up, using five different microbial inoculation variants, and analyzed at regular intervals for changes in physicochemical and microbiological parameters for up to 1 year. Differences between treatment protocols were most apparent between tailings that had been inoculated with acidophilic algae in addition to aerobic and anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria and those that had been inoculated with only pyrite-oxidizing chemolithotrophs; these differences included higher pH values, lower redox potentials, and smaller concentrations of soluble copper and zinc. The results suggest that empirical ecological engineering of tailing lagoons to promote the growth and activities of iron-and sulfate-reducing bacteria could minimize their risk of AMD production and that the heterotrophic populations could be sustained by facilitating the growth of microalgae to provide continuous inputs of organic carbon.Mining of metals has been integral to the development of human civilization. As higher-grade ores become depleted, the primary ores that are processed by mining companies are increasingly of lower grade (metal content) and the amount of waste material produced by mining operations is consequently greater. In many cases, metal ores are crushed and ground, and the target metal minerals are concentrated by a process known as froth flotation (9). This involves the addition of chemicals ("collectors") to ground ore suspensions which attach to the target minerals, causing their surfaces to become hydrophobic. Controlled aeration of the treated suspension allows air bubbles to attach to the modified minerals, causing them to float and facilitating their separation from hydrophilic minerals which settle or remain in suspension. Other chemicals, such as lime, can enhance the separation of target and nontarget minerals. The fine-grain mineral waste which results from froth flotation is referred to as "tailings," and in copper mining, these can account for 95 to 99% of the crushed and ground ores (9).Many base metal ores are sulfidic, and they frequently contain large concentrations of the most abundant of all...

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“…Analysis of the solid phases from uninoculated media by XRD suggested that the predominant mineral in all cases was schwertmannite (Fig. 2B, D, and F) (5,6,58). XRD analysis of the solid phases recovered from the GBSRB4.2 cultures that were amended with 1 Fe(II):0 Fe(III) suggested the presence of mackinawite (FeS) and greigite (Fe 3 S 4 ), a ferrimagnetic FeS phase ( Fig.…”

Section: Growth and Activities Ofmentioning

confidence: 95%

Iron Transformations Induced by an Acid-Tolerant Desulfosporosinus Species

Bertel

Peck

Quick

et al. 2012

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The mineralogical transformations of Fe phases induced by an acid-tolerant, Fe(III)-and sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfosporosinus sp. strain GBSRB4.2 were evaluated under geochemical conditions associated with acid mine drainage-impacted systems (i.e., low pH and high Fe concentrations). X-ray powder diffractometry coupled with magnetic analysis by first-order reversal curve diagrams were used to evaluate mineral phases produced by GBSRB4.2 in media containing different ratios of

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The Influence of Phototrophic Biomass on Fe and S Redox Cycling in an Acid Mine Drainage-Impacted System

Cited by 16 publications

References 36 publications

Depth-dependent geochemical and microbiological gradients in Fe(III) deposits resulting from coal mine-derived acid mine drainage

Depth-dependent geochemical and microbiological gradients in Fe(III) deposits resulting from coal mine-derived acid mine drainage

Significance of Microbial Communities and Interactions in Safeguarding Reactive Mine Tailings by Ecological Engineering

Iron Transformations Induced by an Acid-Tolerant Desulfosporosinus Species

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