Open AccessInsights into the dynamics of bacterial communities during chalcopyrite bioleaching
Author(s) -
He Zhiguo,
Gao Fengling,
Zhao Jiancun,
Hu Yuehua,
Qiu Guanzhou
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00943.x
Subject(s) - bioleaching , chalcopyrite , acidithiobacillus , microbial population biology , biology , temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , 16s ribosomal rna , bacteria , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans , chemistry , genetics , copper , organic chemistry
The microbial ecology of the bioleaching of chalcopyrite ores is poorly understood and little effort has been made to handle the microbiological components of these processes. In this study, the composition and structure of microbial communities in acid mineral bioleaching systems have been studied using a PCR‐based cloning approach. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR‐amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments from bacteria was used to evaluate the changes in the bacterial community in the process of chalcopyrite bioleaching in a shaken flask system. The results revealed that the bacterial community was disturbed after the addition of chalcopyrite. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene fragments revealed that the retrieved sequences clustered together with the genera Acidithiobacillus , Leptospirillum , and Acidovorax . Multidimensional scaling analysis of DGGE banding patterns revealed that the process of chalcopyrite bioleaching in 46 days was divided into four stages. In the first stage, Leptospirillum were dominant. In the second stage, Leptospirillum and Acidithiobacillus groups were mainly detected. In the third and fourth stages, the bacterial community was relatively stable and was dominated by Leptospirillum and Acidithiobacillus . These results extend our knowledge on the microbial dynamics in chalcopyrite bioleaching, a key issue required to improve commercial applications.