GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY - T.P. Pyrog - 2004

22. MICROORGANISMS AS OBJECTS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

22.4. BIOGEOTECHNOLOGY OF METALS

Metal biogeotechnology is the science of extracting metals from ores, concentrates, rocks, and solutions through the action of microorganisms or their metabolites at normal pressure and temperatures ranging from 5 to 80-90 ºC. One of the components of metal biogeotechnology is bacterial leaching of metals. It is based on The process of oxidation of sulfide minerals and The conversion of metals from an insoluble to a soluble state. This process involves Bacteria that oxidize sulfur, its compounds, and iron. Nitrifying bacteria participate in the Processing of manganese and aluminosilicate Materials. All these bacteria belong to the physiological group of microorganisms called "aerobic chemolithotrophs".

The second component of metal biogeotechnology is their biosorption from solutions. This process involves denitrifying and sulfate-reducing bacteria, which are grouped into a physiological group of microorganisms capable of Anaerobic Respiration (using nitrate and sulfate as terminal acceptors in the anaerobic Respiratory Chain).

It should be noted that other bacteria, Fungi, and Yeasts are also capable of metal biosorption from solutions: metal accumulation occurs both by the biomass of microorganisms and by their extracellular metabolites (Proteins, Polysaccharides, etc.).



Last update: 12/08/2026

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