Presenting the highlights of an international forum for scientific and engineering experts and students addressing the progress and applications of Biohydrometallurgy as it enters the new millennium.
Biomining is the use of microorganisms in the recovery of metals from ores. During bioleaching, metals such as copper, nickel or zinc are oxidized through microbial action from the water-insoluble sulfide to the soluble sulfate forms. Although gold is inert to microbial action, microbes can also be used in gold recovery from certain types of ores because as they oxidize the ore, they open up its structure, thereby allowing a gold-solubilizing agent such as cyanide to penetrate the ore. The book describes several industrial bioleaching and biooxidation processes as well as the underlying theory and biology of the microbes involved.
Biotechnology of Metals: Principles, Recovery Methods and Environmental Concerns deals with all aspects of metal biotechnology in different areas, such as biogenesis, biomaterials, biomimetic strategies, biohydrometallurgy, mineral biobeneficiation, electrobioleaching, microbial corrosion, human implants, concrete biocorrosion, microbiology of environment pollution, and bioremediation. As the technology of this interdisciplinary science has diversified over the last five years, this book provides a valuable source for scientists and students in a number of disciplines, including geology, chemistry, metallurgy, microbiology, chemical engineering, environment, civil engineering, and biomedical engineering. - Offers comprehensive coverage of an interdisciplinary subject - Outlines the role of microbiology and biotechnology in mining, metallurgy, waste disposal and environmental control - Covers new topics, such as biogenesis, biomaterials processing, the role of micro-organisms in causing corrosion, and much more - Presents scientifically illustrated experimental research methods in metals biotechnology
The application of microbiological methods to the extraction of metals from minerals is supported by several bioleaching and biooxidation processes operating in different sites over the world. This book details the basic aspects of the process with special emphasis on recent contributions regarding the chemical and microbial aspects of the bioleaching process and the use of microorganisms in the treatment of complex ores and concentrates.
Physiological and Biotechnological Aspects of Extremophiles highlights the current and topical areas of research in this rapidly growing field. Expert authors from around the world provide the latest insights into the mechanisms of these fascinating organisms use to survive.The vast majority of extremophiles are microbes which include archaea, bacteria and some eukaryotes. These microbes live under chemical and physical extremes that are usually lethal to cellular molecules, yet they manage to survive and even thrive. Extremophiles have important practical uses. They are a valuable source of industrially important enzymes and recent research has revealed novel mechanisms and biomolecular structures with a broad range of potential applications in biotechnology, biomining, and bioremediation.Aimed at research scientists, students, microbiologists, and biotechnologists, this book is an essential reading for scientists working with extremophiles and a recommended reference text for anyone interested in the microbiology, bioprospecting, biomining, biofuels, and extremozymes of these organisms. - Shows the implications of the physiological adaptations of microbes from extreme habitats that are largely contributed by their biomolecules from basic to applied research - Provides in-depth knowledge of genomic plasticity and proteome of different extremophiles - Gives detailed and comprehensive insight about use of genetic engineering as well as genome editing for industrial applications
Bioleaching of chalcopyrite is always a challenge and research hotspot. The low copper extraction and dissolution kinetics restricted the industrial application of chalcopyrite bioleaching. To solve this problem, the dissolution process and passivation mechanism of chalcopyrite in bioleaching should be first studied, then the rate-limiting steps should be analysed explicitly, and finally the intensifying method can be put forward. Many scholars have made efforts to investigate the dissolution mechanism of chalcopyrite in bioleaching. However, there is no congruence of opinion as yet. Biohydrometallurgy of Chalcopyrite summarizes and discusses the reported research findings. In addition, this book publishes the related results found by the authors' research. Then, the dissolution mechanism of chalcopyrite in bioleaching is interpreted. Finally, the process intensification techniques of chalcopyrite bioleaching are provided and discussed. Hence, this book provides useful reference and guidance in both laboratory research and industrial production. - Interprets the dissolution mechanism of chalcopyrite in bioleaching - Provides feasible technologies for intensifying chalcopyrite bioleaching - Overviews the current situations of chalcopyrite bioleaching - Helps the readers to deeply understand the bioleaching mechanisms of chalcopyrite - Provides topics for future research and potential industrial applications
Microbial Diversity in the Genomic Era presents insights on the techniques used for microbial taxonomy and phylogeny, along with their applications and respective pros and cons. Though many advanced techniques for the identification of any unknown bacterium are available in the genomics era, a far fewer number of the total microbial species have been discovered and identified to date. The assessment of microbial taxonomy and biosystematics techniques discovered and practiced in the current genomics era with suitable recommendations is the prime focus of this book. - Discusses the techniques used for microbial taxonomy and phylogeny with their applications and respective pros and cons - Reviews the evolving field of bacterial typing and the genomic technologies that enable comparative analysis of multiple genomes and the metagenomes of complex microbial environments - Provides a uniform, standard methodology for species designation
Contributors from a wide range of biological and environmental sciences. This up-to-date and comprehensive book is indispensable for environmental scientists and microbiologists and is a recommended acquisition for all microbiology libraries. Written by experts in their field, this important volume provides a comprehensive account of acidophilic microbiology from fundamental to applied aspects. The seventeen chapters are arranged in five sections, each dealing with a specific area. The first section looks at the challenges faced by life-forms that grow in extremely acidic environments and how they adapt to meet these challenges. The next section describes the physiological and phylogenetic diversities of acidophilic microorganisms including archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes. Section three covers acidophile community dynamics, quorum sensing and the formation of biofilms. The next section deals with the various omic technologies that are used to study acidophiles including genomic and metagenomic studies, proteomic-, mobilomic- and metabolomic-focused research. The final section considers the ways in which acidophiles are used in established and emerging biotechnologies and describes why these fascinating microorganisms are considered potential candidates for life on other solar bodies, such as Mars, and beyond.