Department of Materials Science and Technology, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Aristides Novis, n.2, Salvador, BA, 40210-630, Brazil.
Environ Monit Assess. 2021 Jan 13;193(2):60. doi: 10.1007/s10661-021-08844-2.
Acid mine drainage occurs due to the chemical and microbiological oxidation of sulfide minerals and can be a source of potentially toxic elements contamination of groundwater and surface water. The objective of this study was to identify microorganisms involved in sulfide oxidation in the tailings of a Bahia Gold Belt mine (Brazil). Samples of solids and water were collected at the mine tailings dam and characterized. The microorganisms were isolated after enrichment and subsequent purification. The major constituents of the tailings are Si, Fe, Al, S, and K. The sulfur content of the tailings is 0.98%. The major phases are quartz, muscovite, and clinochlore. Gravity concentrates of the tailings show several particles of pyrite, that is, the major sulfide phase. Molecular analysis identified the microorganisms isolated in the acid mine drainage process in this region. Five bacterium species were found: Acidithiobacillus spp., Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidiphilium spp., Leptospirillum type II, and Sulfobacillus spp. No organisms of the archaea or eukaryote domains were found. The isolate was used in the bioleaching of copper sulfide ore, and the copper extraction was about 60% in 60 days for ground ore.
酸性矿山排水是由于硫化物矿物的化学和微生物氧化作用而产生的，可能是地下水和地表水潜在有毒元素污染的来源。本研究的目的是确定巴伊亚金矿带（巴西）尾矿中参与硫化物氧化的微生物。在尾矿坝采集了固体和水样，并对其进行了表征。在富集和随后的纯化后分离出微生物。尾矿的主要成分是 Si、Fe、Al、S 和 K。尾矿的硫含量为 0.98%。主要相是石英、白云母和斜绿泥石。尾矿的重力浓缩物显示出几个黄铁矿颗粒，即主要的硫化物相。分子分析鉴定了该地区酸性矿山排水过程中分离出的微生物。发现了 5 种细菌：嗜酸硫杆菌属、氧化亚铁硫杆菌、嗜酸菌属、Ⅱ型螺旋菌属和硫杆菌属。未发现古菌或真核生物的微生物。该分离株用于硫化铜矿石的生物浸出，在 60 天内对研磨矿石的铜提取率约为 60%。
