Article (Scientific journals)
Systems Biology of Acidophile Biofilms for Efficient Metal Extraction
Christel, Stephan; Dopson, Mark; Vera, Mario et al.
2015In Advanced Materials Research, 1130, p. 312-315
Peer reviewed
 

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Abstract :
[en] This European Union ERASysApp funded study will investigate one of the major drawbacks of bioleaching of the copper containing mineral chalcopyrite, namely the long lag phase between construction and inoculation of bioleaching heaps and the release of dissolved metals. In practice, this lag phase can be up to three years and the long time period adds to the operating expenses of bioheaps for chalcopyrite dissolution. One of the major time determining factors in bioleaching heaps is suggested to be the speed of mineral colonization by the acidophilic microorganisms present. By applying confocal microscopy, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, bioinformatics, and computer modeling the authors aim to investigate the processes leading up to, and influencing the attachment of three moderately thermophilic sulfur-and/or iron-oxidizing model species: Acidithiobacillus caldus, Leptospirillum ferriphilum, and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans. Stirred tank reactors containing chalcopyrite concentrate will be inoculated with these species in various orders and proportions and the effects on the lag phase and rates of metal release will be compared. Meanwhile, confocal microscopy studies of cell attachment to chalcopyrite mineral particles, as well as metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics of the formed biofilms will further increase understanding of the attachment process and help develop a model thereof. By fulfilling our goal to decrease the length of the lag phase of chalcopyrite bioleaching heaps we hope to increase their economic feasibility and therefore, industrial interest in bioleaching as a sustainable technology.
Research center :
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB): Eco-Systems Biology (Wilmes Group)
Disciplines :
Biotechnology
Author, co-author :
Christel, Stephan
Dopson, Mark
Vera, Mario
Sand, Wolfgang
Herold, Malte ;  University of Luxembourg > Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB)
Wilmes, Paul ;  University of Luxembourg > Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB)
Buetti-Dinh, Antoine
Pivkin, Igor
Poetsch, Ansgar
Nygren, Jan
Kubista, Mikael
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Systems Biology of Acidophile Biofilms for Efficient Metal Extraction
Publication date :
2015
Journal title :
Advanced Materials Research
ISSN :
1662-8985
Publisher :
Trans Tech Publications, Zurich, Switzerland
Volume :
1130
Pages :
312-315
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Focus Area :
Systems Biomedicine
European Projects :
FP7 - 321567 - ERASYSAPP - ERASysAPP - Systems Biology Applications
FnR Project :
FNR8888488 - Sysmetex, 2014 (01/03/2015-31/07/2018) - Paul Wilmes
Name of the research project :
SysMetEx
Funders :
FNR - Fonds National de la Recherche [LU]
CE - Commission Européenne [BE]
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