Bioleaching of Pyrite by Iron-Oxidizing Acidophiles under the Influence of Reactive Oxygen Species

Abstract:

After 24h of exposure to acidic media, pyrite generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). Freshly-crushed pyrite with grain sizes between 50-100 μm at a 5 % (w/v), pulp density generated 0.17 ± 0.01 mM H₂O₂, while 10% pyrite generated 0.29 ± 0.01 mM and 30 % pyrite generated approximately 0.83 ± 0.06 mM. These levels of H₂O₂ inhibit iron oxidation in iron-grown cells of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans^T but not in pyrite-grown cells. ROS originating from pyrite, which was incubated for 24 h in acidic medium, prohibited pyrite dissolution by iron-grown cells, while pyrite-grown cells were adapted to these concentrations of ROS. Periodical addition of 100 μM H₂O₂ to pyrite cultures inoculated with pyrite-grown cells did not lower iron dissolution as it was observed with iron-grown cells. By high throughput proteomics analysis, an increased expression of proteins related to oxidative stress management, iron-and sulfur oxidation systems, carbon fixation and biofilm formation was observed in biofilm cells grown on pyrite compared to iron-grown cells.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 262)
• Pages: 372-375
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.262.372
• Online since: August 2017
• Authors: Dieu Huynh*, Sören Bellenberg, Mario Vera Véliz, Ansgar Poetsch, Wolfgang Sand
• Keywords: Bioleaching, Iron-Oxidizing Bacteria, Oxidative Stress, Proteomics

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