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dc.contributor.authorWatling, Helen
dc.contributor.authorCollinson, David
dc.contributor.authorShiers, Denis
dc.contributor.authorBryan, Christopher
dc.contributor.authorWatkin, Elizabeth
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T11:48:35Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T11:48:35Z
dc.date.created2014-03-03T20:00:44Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.identifier.citationWatling, Helen and Collinson, David and Shiers, Denis and Bryan, Christopher and Watkin, Elizabeth. 2013. Effects of pH, temperature and solids loading on microbial community structure during batch culture on a polymetallic ore. Minerals Engineering. 48: pp. 68-76.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/15218
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.mineng.2012.10.014
dc.description.abstract

The bioleaching of an organic-rich polymetallic ore was conducted under conditions intended to probe the boundaries of microbial activity using iron and sulphur oxidising microorganisms and heterotrophs enriched from self-heating pyritic coal. Solution chemistry parameters such as rapidly increased ORP and reduction in pH subsequent to inoculation point to the development of active microbial communities. The ease with which communities adapted to the organic-rich ore and the bioleaching systems indicated that the organic compounds were not present in leachates at toxic levels. Overall, extractions obtained in three series of inoculated tests were at 35 °C: 79–96% Zn, 48–82% Cu, 47–55% Ni and 79–86% Co; at 55 °C: 96–97% Zn, 72–80% Cu, 46–50% Ni and 82–83% Co. T-RFLP provided semi-quantitative estimates of species abundance. The greatest microbial complexity was observed with moderate pH and low solids loading. Microbial complexity was reduced significantly by low pH or increased solids loading. Nevertheless, efficient bioleaching was observed over a relatively wide range of operating conditions. Even under the more extreme conditions, the community profile was dominated by combinations of organisms not typically seen in most commercial operations.

dc.publisherElsevier
dc.subjectBacteria
dc.subjectArchaea
dc.subjectBioleaching
dc.subjectSulphide ores
dc.titleEffects of pH, temperature and solids loading on microbial community structure during batch culture on a polymetallic ore
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume48
dcterms.source.startPage68
dcterms.source.endPage76
dcterms.source.issn08926875
dcterms.source.titleMinerals Engineering
curtin.department
curtin.accessStatusFulltext not available


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