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Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution
Published on: December 30, 2021
Bioleaching of lepidolite by Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans with different energy substrates
Hongwei Liu1, Yan Tong2, Hongchang Liu1
1School of Minerals Processing & Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Key Laboratory of Biohydrometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
Abstract:
This study investigated the impact of energy substrate selection on the bioleaching mechanism of lepidolite by the dominant bioleaching bacterium Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans. Through the establishment of bioleaching systems driven by distinct energy substrates (S0, Fe2+, and FeS2), we demonstrate that the process is coregulated by multiple factors: acidification via H⁺ dissolution, metal ion adsorption by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and dual promoting and inhibitory effects arising from secondary mineral formation in FeS2/Fe2+ systems. Overall, proton-driven acidification is likely the decisive factor governing leaching efficiency. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant substrate-induced metabolic variations, with critical regulation observed in the nicotinate/nicotinamide metabolism, pantothenate/CoA biosynthesis, and carbon-nitrogen metabolic pathways. These adaptations crucially regulate electron transfer, iron/sulfur oxidation, and mineral phase stability, ultimately determining differential leaching performance. This work elucidates the pivotal role of energy substrate selection in lepidolite bioleaching efficiency, providing theoretical guidance for high-efficiency strain screening, leaching process optimization, and recovery rate enhancement.
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