Bioleaching of chalcocite by mixed microorganisms subjected to mutation

• Published in: Journal of Central South University of Technology. Science & technology of mining and metallurgy Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 218 - 222
• Main Authors: Kang, Jian, Qiu, Guan-zhou, Gao, Jian, Wang, Hai-hua, Wu, Xue-ling, Ding, Jian-nan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Changsha Central South University 01.04.2009
• Subjects: Engineering; Metallic Materials; mutation; chalcocite; mixed microorganisms; bioleaching
• ISSN: 1005-9784; 1993-0666
• DOI: 10.1007/s11771-009-0037-z

Mixed microorganisms with elevated activity of chalcocite-leaching were screened by mutation methods. The original microorganisms collected from acid mine drainage of different sites were mixed and then treated with mutagens NO 2 − , diethyl sulfate (DES), UV and their combinations, respectively. Five groups of mixed microorganisms with much stronger ore-leaching ability were obtained by screening on the leaching media. Among them, group E of mixed microorganisms (treated with 1% DES for 60 min) with the best performance on chalcocite-leaching, increases the content of Cu 2+ by 101.4% in 20 d of leaching compared with the control culture. In addition, group E is more tolerant to Cu 2+ in media than the control without mutation treatment. Analysis for the diversity of microbial clones indicates that half of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in group E are Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans . These observations suggest that group E might have potentials for industrial application.