Mining with microbes

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995 · Bio/Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0895-773· OSTI ID:160146

Rawlings, D E ^[1]; Silver, S ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Cape Town, Rondebosch (South Africa)
2. Univ. of Illinois, Chicago, IL (United States)

Microbes are playing increasingly important roles in commercial mining operations, where they are being used in the {open_quotes}bioleaching{close_quotes} of copper, uranium, and gold ores. Direct leaching is when microbial metabolism changes the redox state of the metal being harvested, rendering it more soluble. Indirect leaching includes redox chemistry of other metal cations that are then coupled in chemical oxidation or reduction of the harvested metal ion and microbial attack upon and solubilization of the mineral matrix in which the metal is physically embedded. In addition, bacterial cells are used to detoxify the waste cyanide solution from gold-mining operations and as {open_quotes}absorbants{close_quotes} of the mineral cations. Bacterial cells may replace activated carbon or alternative biomass. With an increasing understanding of microbial physiology, biochemistry and molecular genetics, rational approaches to improving these microbial activities become possible. 40 refs., 3 figs.

• OSTI ID: 160146
• Journal Information: Bio/Technology, Vol. 13, Issue 8; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
MICROORGANISMS
METABOLISM
GENETIC ENGINEERING
MUTAGENESIS
MINING
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
METALS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA
COPPER ORES
MICROBIAL LEACHING
URANIUM ORES
GOLD ORES
CYANIDES
BIOMASS
TOXIC MATERIALS
GENES