Related Experiment Videos
Distribution of oxidizing bacterial activities and characterization of bioleaching-related microorganisms in a
M I de Silóniz1, P Lorenzo, J Perera
1Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, I. Facultades de Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
The occurrence and activity of bioleaching-related microorganisms are highest at 0.25 m under the surface of a uranium mineral heap, and decrease at points deeper than 1 m inside the heap. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Th. acidophilus, Th. thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans have been found and isolated from different sites inside the heap. Other mesophilic iron- or sulphur-oxidizing bacteria and some moderate thermophile have also been isolated from deep (1 m and 4 m) sites and characterized. Several fungi and some yeasts are present in this bioleaching habitat.