Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
Volume 20, Issue 11, Pages 7728-7739Publisher
SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-1449-0
Keywords
Arsenic minerals; Microbial activity; Arsenite oxidation; Arsenate reduction; Bioleaching; Bioremediation
Categories
Funding
- Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education [0079/P01/201070]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
It is well known that microorganisms can dissolve different minerals and use them as sources of nutrients and energy. The majority of rock minerals are rich in vital elements (e.g., P, Fe, S, Mg and Mo), but some may also contain toxic metals or metalloids, like arsenic. The toxicity of arsenic is disclosed after the dissolution of the mineral, which raises two important questions: (1) why do microorganisms dissolve arsenic-bearing minerals and release this metal into the environment in a toxic (also for themselves) form, and (2) How do these microorganisms cope with this toxic element? In this review, we summarize current knowledge about arsenic-transforming microbes and their role in biomining processes. Special consideration is given to studies that have increased our understanding of how microbial activities are linked to the biogeochemistry of arsenic, by examining (1) where and in which forms arsenic occurs in the mining environment, (2) microbial activity in the context of arsenic mineral dissolution and the mechanisms of arsenic resistance, (3) the minerals used and technologies applied in the biomining of arsenic, and (4) how microbes can be used to clean up post-mining environments.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available