Microbial synergy and stoichiometry in heap biooxidation of low-grade porphyry arsenic-bearing gold ore

Li, Jiafeng; Tong, Linlin; Xia, Yu; Yang, Hongying; Sand, Wolfgang; Xie, Hongzhen; Lan, Bibo; Zhong, Shuiping; Auwalu, Ali

doi:10.1007/s00792-020-01160-6

Original Paper
Published: 27 February 2020

Microbial synergy and stoichiometry in heap biooxidation of low-grade porphyry arsenic-bearing gold ore

Jiafeng Li¹,
Linlin Tong¹,
Yu Xia²,
Hongying Yang¹,
Wolfgang Sand³,
Hongzhen Xie⁴,
Bibo Lan⁴,
Shuiping Zhong⁴ &
Ali Auwalu¹

Extremophiles volume 24, pages 355–364 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Heap biooxidation method was used to evaluate the availability of Paodaoling gold ore in Anhui province, China. 15,000 tons of gold ores (≤ 10 mm in diameter) were bioxidized under mesophilic conditions. Under the synergistic effect of microbial community, arsenic and sulfur were oxidized by 42% and 38% after 80 days. Relatively, leaching of gold was improved from 36 to 78% after heap biooxidation. The sequencing results showed there were 28 operational taxonomic units identified the microbial community in the heap. The main genera were Acidithiobacillus, Ferroplasma, Acidiferrobacter and Nitrospira. According to stoichiometry, the content of microorganisms with various functions tended to be balanced. The biomass production rate was 10 g/s, the CO₂ fixation rate was 18 g/s, and the oxygen consumption rate was 60 g/s. This study provides a good basis for the further design and application of heap biooxidation technology.

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Change history

15 April 2020
In the original publication the section heading “Classification of microorganisms” appearing above the sub-section “Air and liquid circulation in the heap” in page four is incorrect. The correct section heading should be read as “Results and discussion".

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Professor Wolfgang Sand for his instructive advice. This work was supported by the Special Fund for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1608254) and the Zijin mining Group Co., Ltd (ZJKY2017(B)KFJJ01, ZJKY2017(B)KFJJ02).

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Affiliations

School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China
Jiafeng Li, Linlin Tong, Hongying Yang & Ali Auwalu
School of Chemical and Environmental, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China
Yu Xia
Biofilm Centre, Aquatische Biotechnologie, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141, Essen, Germany
Wolfgang Sand
State Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Low-Grade Refractory Gold Ores, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd, Shanghang, 364200, China
Hongzhen Xie, Bibo Lan & Shuiping Zhong

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Jiafeng Li
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Linlin Tong
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Yu Xia
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Hongying Yang
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Wolfgang Sand
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Hongzhen Xie
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Bibo Lan
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Shuiping Zhong
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Ali Auwalu
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Correspondence to Linlin Tong.

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Li, J., Tong, L., Xia, Y. et al. Microbial synergy and stoichiometry in heap biooxidation of low-grade porphyry arsenic-bearing gold ore . Extremophiles 24, 355–364 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-020-01160-6

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Received: 06 July 2019
Accepted: 06 February 2020
Published: 27 February 2020
Issue Date: May 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-020-01160-6

Keywords

Porphyry-type gold ore
Heap biooxidation
Microbial community
Metabolic function
Stoichiometry