Metal Recovery and Environment Remediation by Bioleaching Technology

Dear Colleagues,

The process whereby minerals are dissolved into bulk solutions under the effects of microorganisms is called bioleaching. On the one hand, bioleaching can be used for valuable metal recovery from ore deposits and concentrates. On the other hand, bioleaching may cause acidification of water resources, leading to serious environment pollution, such as acid mine/rock drainage (AMD/ARD).

It is assumed that 15% of copper, 5% of gold and smaller amounts of other metals (such as nickel and zinc) are currently produced globally using bioleaching technologies.  As well as base metals, such as copper and nickel, precious metals, such as gold, uranium, and rare-earth elements, have also been exploited from underground ore bodies in situ. Bioleaching is also applied to recover valuable metals from electrical–electronic wastes, spent petroleum and fly ash, oxide ores (i.e., lateritic ores), process waters and water streams. In addition, bioleaching has been actively studied over the last several years as a bioremediation tool for treating heavy metals contained in sewage sludge, sediment, and contaminated soil and mine tailings.

Modern “Omics” techniques, such as genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics, have been used to elucidate diversity and some ecological aspects of acidophilic communities, bioleaching mechanisms, and will be helpful in future attempts to optimize the design, control, and optimization of bioleaching applications. Increased standards for environmental protection and the demand for base and precious metals, as well as rare-earth elements, will definitely intensify the use of bioprocessing of ore minerals and other metal resources.

This Special Issue aims to publish papers of recent advances on bioleaching, bioremediation and related studies. These include mechanisms, methodology, new technology and its applications. Studies on the physiology and phylogeny of bioleaching microorganisms as well as recent omics data relevant to the understanding of bioleaching process are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Ruiyong Zhang
Dr. Qian Li
Prof. Dr. Xingyu Liu
Guest Editors

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• bioleaching
• acidophiles
• heavy metals
• bioremediation
• acid mine drainage
• omics