Spectroscopic Methods to Study Inorganic Minerals Produced by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) is a widely studied acidophilic prokaryote primarily found in natural low-pH environments by fixing carbon dioxide and nitrogen and drives ecological succession in acidic biotopes. As a key microorganism in bioleaching and biocorrosion processes, A. ferrooxidans demonstrate unique capabilities in synthesizing both intracellular magnetite and various extracellular secondary minerals. Understanding the synthesis mechanisms and characterizing the composition of these secondary minerals are of significant scientific importance. In this study, we briefly introduced the physico-chemical characteristics of A. ferrooxidans, with emphasis on summarizing the information regarding its biomineralization as investigated through microscopic, spectroscopic, and coupled analytical techniques. Additionally, the properties and potential applications of the inorganic minerals produced by A. ferrooxidans-mediated were reviewed. Finally, we discussed possible future research directions and development prospects for the application of spectroscopy in studying inorganic minerals synthesized by A. ferrooxidans.