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Mesophilic, Autotrophic Bioleaching Bacteria: Description, Physiology and Role

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Biomining

Part of the book series: Biotechnology Intelligence Unit ((BIOIU))

Abstract

Acidophilic bacteria capable of attacking metal sulfides are readily isolated from sites of natural mineral oxidation. These bacteria have been divided according to their preferred temperatures for growth into three groups: mesophiles, moderate thermophiles and extreme thermophiles. The mesophiles are those bacteria with optimum temperatures of between 25°–40°C and are incapable of growth above 45°C. Mesophilic iron- or sulfur-oxidizing bacteria can be further subdivided into those which are obligately autotrophic and those which are also capable of growth on organic compounds.1 The moderate and extreme thermophiles are described in chapter 12 and heterotrophic bacteria isolated from iron- and sulfur-rich environments in chapter 13. This chapter deals primarily with the acidophilic, iron- or sulfur-oxidizing obligately autotrophic bacteria. Good reviews on these bacteria have been published2 – 4 and this chapter is intended to update and build on these.

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  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Cape Town, 7700, Rondebosch, South Africa

    Douglas E. Rawlings

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Rawlings, D.E. (1997). Mesophilic, Autotrophic Bioleaching Bacteria: Description, Physiology and Role. In: Rawlings, D.E. (eds) Biomining. Biotechnology Intelligence Unit. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-06111-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-06111-4_11

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