TY - JOUR

T1 - A case in support of implementing innovative bio-processes in the metal mining industry

AU - Sanchez-Andrea, Irene

AU - Stams, Alfons J.M.

AU - Weijma, Jan

AU - Gonzalez Contreras, Paula

AU - Dijkman, Henk

AU - Rozendal, Rene A.

AU - Johnson, David

N1 - European Research Council (ERC) grant [project 323009] and Gravitation grant [project 024.002.002] from the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

PY - 2016/4/18

Y1 - 2016/4/18

N2 - The metal mining industry faces many large challenges in future years, among which is the increasing need to processlow-grade ores as accessible higher grade ores become depleted. This is against a backdrop of increasing global demandsfor base and precious metals, and rare earth elements. Typically about 99% of solid material hauled to, and ground at, theland surface currently ends up as waste (rock dumps and mineral tailings). Exposure of these to air and water frequentlyleads to the formation of acidic, metal-contaminated run-off waters, referred to as acid mine drainage, which constitutes asevere threat to the environment. Formation of acid drainage is a natural phenomenon involving various species oflithotrophic (literally ‘rock-eating’) bacteria and archaea, which oxidize reduced forms of iron and/or sulfur. However, othermicroorganisms that reduce inorganic sulfur compounds can essentially reverse this process. These microorganisms can beapplied on industrial scale to precipitate metals from industrial mineral leachates and acid mine drainage streams,resulting in a net improvement in metal recovery, while minimizing the amounts of leachable metals to the tailings storagedams. Here, we advocate that more extensive exploitation of microorganisms in metal mining operations could be animportant way to green up the industry, reducing environmental risks and improving the efficiency and the economy ofmetal recovery.

AB - The metal mining industry faces many large challenges in future years, among which is the increasing need to processlow-grade ores as accessible higher grade ores become depleted. This is against a backdrop of increasing global demandsfor base and precious metals, and rare earth elements. Typically about 99% of solid material hauled to, and ground at, theland surface currently ends up as waste (rock dumps and mineral tailings). Exposure of these to air and water frequentlyleads to the formation of acidic, metal-contaminated run-off waters, referred to as acid mine drainage, which constitutes asevere threat to the environment. Formation of acid drainage is a natural phenomenon involving various species oflithotrophic (literally ‘rock-eating’) bacteria and archaea, which oxidize reduced forms of iron and/or sulfur. However, othermicroorganisms that reduce inorganic sulfur compounds can essentially reverse this process. These microorganisms can beapplied on industrial scale to precipitate metals from industrial mineral leachates and acid mine drainage streams,resulting in a net improvement in metal recovery, while minimizing the amounts of leachable metals to the tailings storagedams. Here, we advocate that more extensive exploitation of microorganisms in metal mining operations could be animportant way to green up the industry, reducing environmental risks and improving the efficiency and the economy ofmetal recovery.

U2 - 10.1093/femsle/fnw106

DO - 10.1093/femsle/fnw106

M3 - Article

VL - 363

JO - FEMS Microbiology Letters

JF - FEMS Microbiology Letters

SN - 0378-1097

IS - 11

M1 - fnw106

ER -