Bioleaching is the extraction of specific metals from ores by using bacteria. The typical bioleaching strain Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans utilizes energy from the oxidation of ironand sulfur-containing minerals (Baker & Banfield, 2003) and grows around pH 2.0. As bacteria grow optimally within a specific narrow range of pH, the fluctuation of environmental acidity can bring certain disadvanta...

This study investigates the synergy of Rhizobium phaseoli and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in the bioleaching process of copper. The results showed that additional R. phaseoli could increase leaching rate and cell number of A. ferrooxidans. When the initial cell number ratio between A. ferrooxidans and R. phaseoli was 2 : 1, A. ferrooxidans attained the highest final cell number of approximat...

Bioreactor leaching using enriched culture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptosprillium ferrooxidans was investigated for the apatite rich Indian (Narwapahar) uranium ore. Bioreactor leaching of Narwapahar ore of <45 μm size at pH 2.0 and 10% (w/v) PD using 10% (v/v) inoculum of the bacterium at 35 °C (A. ferrooxidans) and 40 °C (L. ferrooxidans), solubilised 57% and 63% uranium in 5 da...

A combination of EXAFS, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray was used to conduct a molecular and atomic analysis of the uranium complexes formed by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The results demonstrate that this bacterium accumulates uranium as phosphate compounds. We suggest that at toxic levels when the uranium enters the bacterial cells, A. ferrooxidans can detoxify...

The oxidation of ferrous iron by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in the pH range 2.5–7.0 was characterized. In order to measure the rate of bacterial oxidation of ferrous iron with A. ferrooxidans in this high pH range, a novel experimental methodology was developed. The results showed that the inhibition of ferrous iron oxidation activity by A. ferrooxidans observed at pH values above 3.0 is pa...

Microorganisms are dominant form of life on the Earth. It is necessary to enlarge the knowledge about them for more efficient use in all areas of biotechnology, medicine, ecology. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans are acidophilic chemolitoautothropfic bacteria, with capability to oxidize ferrous ions and used in waste water, tail gas treatment and bioleaching technologies. In appropriate condition...

The genus Acidithiobacillus includes iron-oxidizing lithoautotrophs that thrive in acidic mine environments. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a representative species and has been extensively studied for its application to the bioleaching of precious metals. In our attempts to cultivate the type strain of A. ferrooxidans (ATCC 23270(T)), repeated transfers to fresh inorganic media resulted in ...

A cross-comparison of six strains isolated from two different regions, Chambishi copper mine (Zambia, Africa) and Dexing copper mine (China, Asia), was conducted to study the leaching efficiency of low grade copper ores. The strains belong to the three major species often encountered in bioleaching of copper sulfide ores under mesophilic conditions: Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobaci...