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Scanning electron micrograph study of Bacillus licheniformis during bioleaching of silica from magnesite ore
Author(s) -
Mohanty B.K.,
Mishra A.K.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1993.tb03027.x
Subject(s) - bioleaching , magnesite , bacillus licheniformis , scanning electron microscope , metallurgy , micrograph , materials science , mineralogy , chemistry , geology , bacteria , composite material , paleontology , magnesium , copper , bacillus subtilis
We report a scanning electron micrographical study of morphological characteristics of Bacillus licheniformis during bioleaching of silica from magnesite ore and its effect on the ore surface. When grown in the presence of magnesite ore the bacteria were pleomorphic and developed protrusions on the cell surface by which they adhered to the ore surface. A significant amount of soluble silica was released into the leaching solution during incubation for 96 h and was followed by a heavy corrosion of the ore surface. This observation was supported by a petrographic thin‐section analysis which showed the absence of silica veins in magnesite ore exposed to the organism.