Progress in bioleaching: fundamentals and mechanisms of microbial metal sulfide oxidation - part A

VERA-VELIZ, MARIO ANDRES; Schippers, Axel; Hedrich, Sabrina; Sand, Wolfgang

Abstract

Bioleaching of metal sulfides is performed by diverse microorganisms. The dissolution of metal sulfides occurs via two chemical pathways, either the thiosulfate or the polysulfide pathway. These are determined by the metal sulfides' mineralogy and their acid solubility. The microbial cell enables metal sulfide dissolution via oxidation of iron(II) ions and inorganic sulfur compounds. Thereby, the metal sulfide attacking agents iron(III) ions and protons are generated. Cells are active either in a planktonic state or attached to the mineral surface, forming biofilms. This review, as an update of the previous one (Vera et al., 2013a), summarizes some recent discoveries relevant to bioleaching microorganisms, contributing to a better understanding of their lifestyle. These comprise phylogeny, chemical pathways, surface science, biochemistry of iron and sulfur metabolism, anaerobic metabolism, cell-cell communication, molecular biology, and biofilm lifestyle. Recent advances from genetic engineering applied to bioleaching microorganisms will allow in the future to better understand important aspects of their physiology, as well as to open new possibilities for synthetic biology applications of leaching microbial consortia.

Más información

Título según WOS: Progress in bioleaching: fundamentals and mechanisms of microbial metal sulfide oxidation - part A
Título según SCOPUS: ID SCOPUS_ID:85137237530 Not found in local SCOPUS DB
Título de la Revista: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Volumen: 106
Editorial: Springer
Fecha de publicación: 2022
Página de inicio: 6933
Página final: 6952
DOI:

10.1007/S00253-022-12168-7

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS