Chalcopyrite and bornite differentially affect protein synthesis in planktonic cells of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is used in bioleaching industrial operations to recover metal ions from mineral sulfides. Chalcopyrite and bornite are copper sulfides that have the same elemental composition, but differ in their susceptibility to the bioleaching process. Our objective was to identify differentially expressed proteins in A. ferrooxidans LR cells exposed to chalcopyrite or bornite, as a sole energy source, for 24 hours. Compared to the control (without minerals), proteins were induced or repressed in planktonic cells after contact with chalcopyrite or bornite by 24 hours. These results demonstrated that the time of exposure to the copper minerals was enough to trigger distinct responses in the A. ferrooxidans metabolism. © 2007 Trans Tech Publications.

A preliminary differential proteomic analysis of the periplasmic fraction in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans planktonic and attached cells exposed to chalcopyrite

The Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans periplasmic space is known to have proteins involved in the respiratory chains. There are no reports about the expression of the periplasmic proteins in A. ferrooxidans cells attached to chalcopyrite. In this preliminary work, it was compared the periplasmic protein profiles of A. ferrooxidans planktonic and attached cells after exposure to chalcopyrite for 2 hours. The bacterial response to chalcopyrite was investigated by a proteomic approach (two- dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry). Four proteins differentially expressed between planktonic and attached cells after exposure to chalcopyrite were identified. Two of these proteins, repressed in chalcopyrite- attached cells, were both identified as superoxide dismutase, whereas the single strand binding protein (SSB) and the PspA/IM30 protein were induced. These results showed that A. ferrooxidans chalcopyrite- attached and planktonic cells show differential expression of the periplasmic proteins and that a proteomic approach can provide a valuable tool to detect proteins related to the A. ferrooxidans response to attachment to the mineral substrates. © (2009) Trans Tech Publications.

The effect of chloride ions and A. ferrooxidans on the oxidative dissolution of the chalcopyrite evaluated by electrochemical noise analysis (ENA)

It is believed that the dissolution of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) in acid medium can be accelerated by the addition of Cl- ions, which modify the electrochemical reactions in the leaching system. Electrochemical noise analysis (ENA) was utilized to evaluate the effect of the Cl- ions and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans on the oxidative dissolution of a CPE-chalcopyrite (carbon paste electrode modified with chalcopyrite) in acid medium. The emphasis was on the analysis of the admittance plots (Ac) calculated by ENA. In general, a stable passive behavior was observed, mainly during the initial stages of CPE-chalcopyrite immersion, characterized by a low passive current and a low dispersion of the Ac plots, mainly after bacteria addition. This can be explained by the adhesion of bacterial cells on the CPE-chalcopyrite surface acting as a physical barrier. The greater dispersions in the Ac plots occurred immediately after the Cl- ions addition, in the absence of bacteria characterizing an active-state. In the presence of bacteria the addition of Clions only produced some effect after some time due to the barrier effect caused by bacteria adhesion. © (2009) Trans Tech Publications.

Leaching of Ni and Cu from mine wastes (tailings and slags) using acid solutions and A. ferrooxidans

The objective of this work is to evaluate the acidic and biological leaching of tailings containing Ni/Cu from a flotation and smelting plant. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, strain LR, was used for bioleaching at pH 1.8 and chemical controls were run parallel to that. The acidic leaching was done within 48 hours at pH 0.5 and 1.0. In the slag inoculated flasks the redox potential was high (600 mV), thus indicating oxidative bacterial activity, however, the obtained results after 15 days showed only around 13% Ni and 8% Cu extractions, which were not different to those of the controls. For the flotation tailings bioleaching extractions were approximately 45% for Ni and 16% for Cu while differing figures were obtained for the chemical controls. These were 30% and 12% respectively. Here we could observe that the presence of bacterial activity led to a higher solubility of Ni. Acid leaching of slag showed higher nickel and copper extractions: 56% and 24% respectively at pH 0.5 and 21% and 11% at pH 1.0. However, the acid consumption was 320 and 150 Kg/ton of slag, respectively, both much higher than in bacterial assays. These results indicated that Ni and Cu solubilization from the slag is acid dependent no matter the redox potential or ferric iron concentration of the leaching solution. For flotation tailings, acid treatment showed extractions of 23% for Ni and 16% for copper at pH 0.5 and 22% and 28%, respectively at pH 1.0. The acid consumption was also higher: 220 and 120 Kg/ton, at pH 0.5 and 1.0, respectively. Based on own findings we could observe that acid leaching is found to be more effective for slag, though the acid consumption is much higher, while for the flotation tailings, bacterial leaching seems to be the best alternative. © (2009) Trans Tech Publications.

Efeito da adição de nanopartículas na biolixiviação da calcopirita ('CU''FE''S IND.2') por Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans LR

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da atividade oxidativa do Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sobre uma mistura composta de diferentes proporções dos sulfetos minerais pirita e calcopirita

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influência da adição da espécie Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans e de íons Cl- na dissolução da calcopirita (CuFeS'IND2')

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Indução de Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans e seleção de linhagens mutantes para utilização na biohidrometalurgia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudos físico-químicos e de lixiviação de calcopirita (CuFeS.IND.2) por Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo da oxidação de covelita (CuS) e molibdenita (MoS2) sintéticas por Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise proteômica diferencial de Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans em resposta aos sulfetos minerais calcopirita e bornita e efeito de uma proteína recombinante de A. ferrooxidans LR contendo cisteína na oxidação bacteriana da calcopirita

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Estudo de genes envolvidos no processo de adesão do Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans em calcopirita (CuFe'S.IND.2')

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Obtenção e avaliação de mutantes de Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans quanto à capacidade de lixiviar minérios de cobre

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Differential gene expression in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans LR planktonic and attached cells in the presence of chalcopyrite

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Dissolução redutiva de minério de ferro por Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans para a recuperação de metais de interesse econômico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)