The shift of microbial communities and their roles in sulfur and iron cycling in a copper ore bioleaching system

• DOI: 10.1038/srep34744
• Publication Date: 2016-10-04T12:03:01Z
• Authors: Jiaojiao Niu; Jie Deng; Yunhua Xiao; Zhili He; Xian Zhang; J. D. Van Nostrand; Yili Liang; Ye Deng; Xueduan Liu; Huaqun Yin
• Keywords: Cycling

Abstract Bioleaching has been employed commercially to recover metals from low grade ores, but the production efficiency remains be improved due limited understanding of system. This study examined shift microbial communities and S&Fe cycling in three subsystems within a copper ore bioleaching system: leaching heap (LH), solution (LS) sediment under LS. Results showed that both LH LS had higher relative abundance S Fe oxidizing bacteria, while reducing bacteria were more abundant Sediment. GeoChip analysis stronger functional potential for 0 oxidation communities. These findings consistent with measured activities 2+ , which highest by LH, lower those lowest form Moreover, phylogenetic molecular ecological network indicated these differences might related interactions among taxa. Last not least, conceptual model was proposed, linking responsible populations systems. Collectively, this revealed community structures all ore, advanced holistic whole