Community of thermoacidophilic and arsenic resistant microorganisms isolated from a deep profile of mine heaps.

ABSTRACT: Soluble arsenic (As) in acidic feed solution may inhibit the copper (Cu) bioleaching process within mine heaps. To clarify the effect of soluble arsenic on the live biomass and bioxidative activity in heaps, toxicological assays were performed using a synthetic feed solution given by a mine company. The microorganisms had previously been isolated from two heap samples at up to 66 m depth, and cultured using specific media for chemolithotrophic acidophiles (pH 1-2) and moderate thermophiles (48°C), for arsenic tolerance assay. The four media with the highest biomass were selected to assay As-resistance; one culture (Q63h) was chosen to assay biooxidative activity, using a heap sample that contained chalcopyrite and covellite. We found that 0.5 g/L of As does not affect living biomass or bio

SUBMITTER: Casas-Flores S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4539307 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature