METHOD FOR DETECTION OF THE PRESENCE OF ACIDOPHILIC MICROORGANISMS IN AQUEOUS SAMPLES, SUCH AS ACID MINE DRAINAGES OR ACID ROCK DRAINAGES, BIOLEACHING SOLUTIONS OR SOLUTIONS FROM HEAP LEACHING; OR IN SOLID SAMPLES, SUCH AS MINERALS OR CONCENTRATES SUBJECTED TO BIOLEACHING OR THE LIKE

摘要

The object of the present invention is to provide a rapid method for detectionof thepresence of acidophilic microorganisms in aqueous samples, such as acid minedrainages or acid rock drainages, bioleaching solutions or solutions from heapleaching; or in solid samples, such as minerals or concentrates subjected tobioleaching or the like. The method comprises the following steps: a)concentratingacidophilic microorganisms from a given volume of aqueous sample or from asuspension of microorganisms extracted from a solid sample; b) removing theagentsthat are inhibitory for the bioluminiscence reaction by washing the previouslyconcentrated acidophilic microorganisms by means of one or more treatmentswithaqueous washing agents; and c) extracting adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) fromtheacidophilic microorganisms and measuring the light generated by such ATP bymeansof any bioluminiscence detection system. In a further aspect, the inventionprovides akit for detection of the presence of acidophilic microorganisms that uses theabovementioned method.