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MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THIOBACILLUS SPECIES ISOLATED FROM MINE WATERS

D. Simona, T. Gavriloaiei, M. Stefan, G. Popa

First published: 2006DOI pendingView metrics

Abstract

The selective bio-solubilization of mineral sulphide deposits has had an upward development lately due to the irreversible depletion of the ore deposits and the accumulation of large quantities of refuse dumps, the process being equally important for the economy and the environment. This paper aims at carrying out a quantitative assay of both the heterotrophic and the sulphur-oxidising bacteria of the Thiobacillus genus found in samples of mine waters collected from the Barza and Valea Morii mining sites in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania. The research studies conducted in 8 sampling stations at the Barza mining site showed that the number of thiobacilli/ml ranges between 240 and 350,000 in the mine water, while the number of heterotrophic bacteria /ml varies between 24 and 11,000,000 (pH 3.3 - 6.8). At the Valea Morii mining site, the number of thiobacilli/ml is different from one sample to the other, varying between 4 and 250,000, while that of heterotrophic bacteria/ml is very low (pH 2.4 – 3.7). The species identified are characteristic to mine waters: Thiobacillus thiooxidans, Th. ferrooxidans, Th. Neapolitanus, Th. thioparus, Th. novellus. The growth of the Thiobacillus ferrooxidans bacteria was examined using 5 different culture media; from these, the Leathen medium was found to be the most suitable for ore iron and copper oxidation.

Publication details

Title
MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THIOBACILLUS SPECIES ISOLATED FROM MINE WATERS
Authors
D. Simona, T. Gavriloaiei, M. Stefan, G. Popa
Proceedings
6th International Scientific Conference - SGEM
Publisher
SGEM Scientific GeoConference
Year
2006
Pages
57-66
SWS Citekey
Simona20065766
ISSN
1314-2704
ISBN
954-918181-2
Language
en
Publication type
Conference Paper
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