A Comparative Study of the Microbial Communities Between the Mineral Surface and the Bioleaching Solution Using the Microarray Method

摘要

In order to explore the bioleaching mechanism and improve the bioleaching efficiency,the microbial community in the bioleaching solution was compared with that on the surface of minerals based on the microarray analysis.Meanwhile,the elements composition in the bioleaching solution was analyzed using the ICP-AES method.Results showed that there was a high concentration of S and Cu in the leaching solution which up to 2380 mg/L and 1378 mg/L,respectively,after continuously bioleaching of copper-ore concentrate for 30 days by a mixed culture associated with 12 species of bioleaching microorganisms.Based on the data of microarray,the total of cell number in the surface of minerals was far higher than that in the bioleaching solution.Furthermore,the dominant communities on the surface of minerals,such as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus caldus,were similar to that in the bioleaching solution.However,the relative level of some bacteria,such as Sulfobacillus acidophilus and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans,showed great discrepancy with lower presence in the bioleaching solution with respect to the mineral surface.