Bowei Chen

Comparison of microbial diversity during column bioleaching of chalcopyrite at different temperatures

Column bioleaching of chalcopyrite was conducted at 33, 45, and 65 °C, and the copper leaching rates after 220 days were 38.50, 51.35, and 56.75%, respectively. In order to compare the microbial diversity at different temperatures, the microbial community structures of both bacteria and archaea in the columns were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene clone library on day 220. Clone library results indicated that although both iron oxidizers and sulfur oxidizers occurred at all temperatures, iron oxidizers were dominant at 33 and 45 °C and sulfur oxidizers were predominant at 65 °C. With regard to bacterial community structure, Leptospirillum ferriphilum was the principal bacterium at 33 and 45 °C, and uncultured sulfur‐oxidizing symbiont bacteria were dominant at 65 °C. On the other hand, with regard to archaea, only Ferroplasma sp. was detected at 33 °C, cultures similar to uncultured archaeon clone were dominant at 45 °C, and Metallosphaera sedula was predominant at 65 °C. Thus, it is suggested that different community structures occur at different temperatures, and that thermophilic chalcopyrite bioleaching should be inoculated and operated at high temperature in order to allow thermophiles to become the dominant microorganism in the system.

Dominance of Acidithiobacillus at ore surface of Zijinshan commercial low-grade copper bioleaching heap

The microbial community structure in the ore surface of Zijinshan commercial low-grade copper bioleaching heap was investigated by 16S rRNA gene clone library. For both bacteria and Archaea, 105 clones were sequenced. The dominant bacteria species present in the ore surface were Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum, accounting for 51.42% and 48.57%, respectively. However, for the Archaea, only one operational taxonomic unit (OUT) belonged to Ferroplasma acidiphilum. These results indicate that function of genus Acidithiobacillus in the commercial low-grade copper bioleaching heap may be underestimated. More detailed and quantitative information on microbial community structure over time are now under investigation.

Biogeographical distribution of acidophiles and their effects around the Zijinshan heap bioleaching plant

ABSTRACT The Zijin heap bioleaching plant started operation by the end of 2005; due to the proximity of the Ting River, concerns rose about the migration of acidophiles outside of the heap. In this study, 53 soil samples and 51 liquid samples were collected, and the biogeographical distribution of acidophiles was investigated using clone libraries and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the physicochemical characteristics were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP). The results indicated the bioleaching system had some influence on the surrounding environment. Both microbial community and physiochemical index emerged correlation with distance of sampling sites from bioleaching system, mainly limited in the zone 30 m outside bioleaching system. Correlation analysis indicated the migration of different acidophiles was influenced by different factors. Leptospirillum had higher migration capability than the other acidophiles, and such migration capability was one of the important influence factors for its distribution. Environment factors and survival ability were the key influence factors for Acidithiobacillus, Sulfobacillus and Ferroplasma to survive in the surrounding environment.