Biotransformation of Scheelite CaWO₄ by the Extreme Thermoacidophile Metallosphaera sedula: Tungsten-Microbial Interface.

ABSTRACT: The tungsten-microbial interactions and microbial bioprocessing of tungsten ores, which are still underexplored, are the focus of the current study. Here we show that the biotransformation of tungsten mineral scheelite performed by the extreme thermoacidophile Metallosphaera sedula leads to the breakage of scheelite structure and subsequent tungsten solubilization. Total soluble tungsten is significantly higher in cultures containing M. sedula grown on scheelite than the abiotic control, indicating active bioleaching. Advanced analytical electron microscopy was used in order to achieve nanoscale resolution ultrastructural studies of M. sedula grown on tungsten bearing scheelite. In particular, we describe that M. sedula mediated the biotransformation of scheelit

SUBMITTER: Blazevic A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6614383 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature