Microbial Processing of Metal Sulfides [Hardcover]

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.

The application of microbiological methods to the extraction of metals from minerals has definitely gained a prominent role and is supported by the several bioleaching and biooxidation processes operating in different sites over the world. In recent years new techniques and new results about proteomic and bioinformatics are bringing a new perspective on the microbial processes.

This book focuses on 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.

It has been written by recognized researchers in order to introduce the main subjects of microbial processing to undergraduate and postgraduate students, scientists working in this field as well as interested industrialists.

Preface Section I  Fundamentals, microorganisms and mechanisms Microorganisms involved in bioleaching and nucleic acid-based molecular methods for their identification and quantificationAxel Schippers Mechanisms and biochemical fundamentals of bacterial metal sulfide oxidationThore Rodwerder and Wolfgang Sand Electrochemical techniques used to study bacterial-metal sulfides interactionsDenise Bevilaqua, Heloisa A. Acciari, Assis V. Benedetti and Oswaldo Garcia Jr Electrochemical mechanism of leaching. Influence of the presence of catalytic ions and bacteriaAntonio Ballester, Mar?a Luisa Bl?zquez, Felisa Gonz?lez anló¾