Papers by Author: P. Chiacchiarini

Abstract: In this report we evaluate the oxidative capacity of native microorganisms from Copahue geothermal system applied to a gold concentrate (71.1 g/t) compared to that showed by some culture collection strains. The sulphide ore, in which gold is present as submicroscopic particles contained in a pyrite matrix, came from several reservoirs of polymetallic ores located in Neuquén, Patagonia Argentina. The ore was processed in Andacollo treatment plant for gold concentration. After biooxidation tests, the highest percentages of solubilised iron were reached in the inoculated system (100% mixed native cultures, 47.8% Leptospirillum ferrooxidans ATCC 29047 and 28.5% for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans DSM 11477) while in the sterile control it was only 8.8%. The gold recovery was 96.3% and 45.3% for the treated and untreated concentrate respectively.

Abstract: This work presents an overview of the physicochemical and biological studies carried out along Rio Agrio and in different hot springs belonging to the geothermal Copahue volcano system, in Neuquén Argentina. This is an extreme environment characterized by wide ranges of temperature, pH (<1 to 8) and heavy metals concentration. In these extreme conditions chemolitho-autotrophic bacteria, archaea, heterotrophic bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi were detected. Members of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidianus spp., among others, were successfully cultivated and physiological properties of different isolates were determined. Additionally, bioleaching and biooxidation of regional ores were carried out using mixed native cultures.

Abstract: In recent years the use of microbial methods for decontamination or recovery of heavy metals from environment has increased. Microorganisms such as yeasts are potential bioremediators, removing metals via active or passive uptake. Pink-coloured and pigment-less yeast strains isolated from Agrio River, Patagonia Argentina, were tested for copper, nickel, cadmium and zinc tolerance. An agar-plate qualitative screening method using YNB-glucose agar at different metal concentrations was employed. The tolerance to the metals varied depending on the strain tested. A pigmented yeast strain (Agrio 16) was selected by its tolerance. The ability of this strain to copper uptake was investigated. The kinetics of bioaccumulation/biosorption with increasing copper concentrations up to 622.8 mg l-1 were carried out using viable and nonviable biomass. The values of constants k and n obtained for the Freundlich model are 0.0418 and 0.7430, respectively. The maximun sorption uptake capacity (q) for viable biomass was 81.6 mg of copper/g of biomass.