Abstract

The present invention is relevant in biomining, particularly in bioleaching. A method to increase the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in a Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans culture, one of the most important microorganisms in biomining, is presented. This method has been developed using a mathematical model of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans metabolism, which allows to predict how to enhance EPS production, that was validated experimentally, giving origin to the method of the invention. EPS is responsible for bacterial adhesion to the mineral and biofilm formation and are therefore of great importance in bioleaching.