Open AccessA COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE USE OF MICROBES IN MINERAL RECOVERY AND ACID MINES
Author(s) -
Rakshita Sawani
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of engineering applied science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2455-2143
DOI - 10.33564/ijeast.2021.v06i03.037
Subject(s) - sulfur , bioleaching , hydrogen sulfide , environmental chemistry , acid mine drainage , microorganism , archaea , sulfide , chemistry , ferrous , heterotroph , iron bacteria , sulfide minerals , bacteria , autotroph , environmental science , copper , geology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , paleontology , gene
Biomining is successful on the commercial scalefor the recovery of various metals such as copper and oresfrom their ores. The methodology involved in this isprimarily chemistry-driven and is a combination of ferricand hydrogen ions which varies on the type involved.Hydrogen ions present here are produced by the activity ofchemolithotrophic bacteria growing in a highly acidicenvironment. Bioleaching reactions, on the other hand, therole of microorganisms involved, and whether the reactioncarried out are direct or indirect are discussed below. Inplaces where the availability of oxidants to sulfide mineralsurfaces is exposed due to mining, the acid mine drainagetends to contaminate the surroundings as well.Microorganisms that mainly consist of autotrophic andheterotrophic archaea and bacteria, take part in catalyzingiron and sulfur oxidation which determines the release ofmetals and sulfur into the surrounding. Indication towardsthe physiological synergy in sulfur, iron, and carbon flowin the microbial community is assessed. With this, thedevelopment, and future aspects of this with the challengesin mind are described as well.