Chalcopyrite bioleaching efficacy by extremely thermoacidophilic archaea leverages balanced iron and sulfur biooxidation

[Display omitted] •• Extreme thermoacidophiles are capable of bioleaching Cu from chalcopyrite.•• Sulfurisphaera ohwakuensis (Topt 84 °C) was most prolific bioleacher tested.•• Balanced iron and sulfur oxidation is key to minimizing passivation.•• Genome sequences indicate bioleaching potential but...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioresource technology 2024-09, Vol.408, p.131198, Article 131198
Main Authors: Manesh, Mohamad J.H., Willard, Daniel J., John, Kaitlyn M., Kelly, Robert M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaea - metabolism
Bioleaching
Biooxidation
Chalcopyrite extreme thermoacidophiles
Copper - metabolism
Genomes
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Iron - metabolism
Oxidation-Reduction
Sulfolobales
Sulfolobales - metabolism
Sulfur - metabolism
Temperature
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Summary:[Display omitted] •• Extreme thermoacidophiles are capable of bioleaching Cu from chalcopyrite.•• Sulfurisphaera ohwakuensis (Topt 84 °C) was most prolific bioleacher tested.•• Balanced iron and sulfur oxidation is key to minimizing passivation.•• Genome sequences indicate bioleaching potential but needs experimental verification. Factors that contribute to optimal chalcopyrite bioleaching by extremely thermoacidophilic archaea were examined for ten species belonging to the order Sulfolobales from the genera Acidianus (A. brierleyi), Metallosphaera (M. hakonensis, M. sedula, M. prunae), Sulfuracidifex (S. metallicus, S. tepriarius), Sulfolobus (S. acidocaldarius), Saccharlobus (S. solfataricus) and Sulfurisphaera (S. ohwakuensis, S. tokodaii). Only A. brierleyi, M. sedula, S. metallicus, S. tepriarius, S. ohwakuensis, and S. tokodai exhibited significant amounts of bioleaching and were investigated further. At 70–75 °C, Chalcopyrite loadings of 10 g/l were leached for 21 days during which pH, redox potential, planktonic cell density, iron concentrations and sulfate levels were monitored, in addition to copper mobilization. S. ohwakuensis proved to be the most prolific bioleacher. This was attributed to balanced iron and sulfur oxidation, thereby reducing by-product (e.g., jarosites) formation and minimizing surface passivation. Comparative genomics suggest markers for bioleaching potential, but the results here point to the need for experimental verification.
ISSN:0960-8524
1873-2976
1873-2976
DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131198