Distribution of Acidophiles around Zijinshan Bioheapleaching Plant: Dispersal or Not?

Abstract:

The Zijinshan bioheapleaching plant started operating at the end of 2005. During four years of leaching operation, concern about migration of acidophiles from the heap into the nearby Ting river has arisen. A total of 44 soil samples, 49 water samples and 15 air samples were collected surround the heap at different spatial scales, and the quantitative distribution of acidophile around Zijinshan bioheap was studied. Chemical characteristics of the samples such as pH, copper content and iron content were analyzed. Real-time PCR assay was used to qualify acidophiles, included genus Acidithiobacillus, Leptospirillum, Ferroplasma and Sulfobacillus in all samples. The results showed that the four acidophiles displayed different biogeographic patterns. Geographic distance did not have a biogeographical effect on the experimental spatial scale for the genus Acidithiobacillus, Leptospirillum and Sulfobacillus. However, the geographic distance was a significant factor for genus Ferroplasma. The water soluble copper and iron concentrations of soil samples had crucial relevance for the existence of acidophiles. No significant variation was found among all the water samples regarding the concentation of acidophiles. The concentration of copper in the river met China National water quality II standard. These results indicated that: a) the dispersal of acidophiles from the heap may not be significant b) the adverse impact from the heap on the local environmental may not be significant.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 1073-1076)
• Pages: 110-113
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1073-1076.110
• Online since: December 2014
• Authors: Xing Yu Liu*, Bo Wei Chen, Jian Kang Wen
• Keywords: Acidophile, Bioheapleaching, Geographic Distribution, Real-Time PCR

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