Bacteria strain wenelen DSM 16786, use of said bacteria for leaching of ores or concentrates containing metallic sulfide mineral species and leaching processes based on the use of said bacteria or mixtures that contain said bacteria
Inventors
Sugio, Tsuyoshi • Miura, Akira • Parada Valdecantos, Pilar A. • Badilla Ohlbaum, Ricardo
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7601530-B2
Publication Date
2009-10-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention is related to an isolated chemolithotrophic bacterial strain belonging to the specie Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, named “Wenelen” and deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH—DSMZ under classification number DSM 16786, the use of said bacteria for leaching ores or concentrates containing of metallic sulfide species and leaching processes based on the use of said bacteria or mixtures that contain said bacteria. This Wenelen DSM 16786 strain has an increased oxidizing activity, especially regarding chalcopyrite, when compared to known bacteria. Due to the former feature, this bacteria strain show great interest for biomining applications and it is presently being subjected to annotation processes after sequencing.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an isolated chemolithotrophic Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain named Wenelen, deposited as DSM 16786 at the DSMZ. The strain is described as a bacillary gram-negative bacterium that grows chemolithotrophically by oxidizing iron, elemental sulfur and compounds resulting from bioleaching of sulfide minerals or ores. The Wenelen DSM 16786 strain is defined by the 16S rDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO.1 and an extra-chromosomal element of approximately 15 Kb with an autonomous replication sequence.
The content addresses copper sulfide biomining limitations, particularly poor chalcopyrite leaching, and frames the invention as providing increased oxidizing and copper leaching activity relative to known collection strains. The strain is characterized as acidophilic, aerobic, and mesophilic, consistent with chemolithotrophic energy sources derived from the bioleaching process. It is described as having increased activity for leaching metallic sulfide ores.
The provided experimental support compares Wenelen DSM 16786 with ATCC 23270 and abiotic controls across bioleaching assay formats that simulate copper leaching conditions, including stirred tank or vat-type conditions and heap, dump, and in-situ formats. The document reports improved copper recovery and leaching kinetics for Wenelen DSM 16786, including rate enhancement and shorter times to reach extraction fractions.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim set includes one independent claim. The inventive subject matter is centered on an isolated deposited Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain, Wenelen DSM 16786, with specified genetic features and increased activity for leaching metallic sulfide ores.
Isolated deposited Wenelen DSM 16786 with defined genetic features and chemolithotrophic growth
An isolated bacterial strain belonging to Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, named Wenelen, deposited as DSM 16786 at the DSMZ, growing chemolithotrophically by oxidizing iron, elemental sulfur and compounds resulting from bioleaching of sulfide minerals or ores, having the 16S rDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO.1 and an extra-chromosomal element of approximately 15 Kb with an autonomous replication sequence.
Increased activity for leaching metallic sulfide ores
The Wenelen DSM 16786 strain having an increased activity for leaching of metallic sulfide ores.
The independent claim combines an isolated deposited Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain identified as Wenelen DSM 16786 with specified 16S rDNA and an approximately 15 Kb extra-chromosomal element with an autonomous replication sequence, together with increased activity for leaching metallic sulfide ores.
Stated Advantages
Increased activity for leaching of metallic sulfide ores, including improved copper recovery and leaching kinetics relative to known collection strains.
Shorter times to reach extraction fractions and higher specific bioleaching rate.
Potential industrial cost savings and copper production impacts.
Documented Applications
Bioleaching of sulfide minerals or ores for copper extraction and recovery in stirred tanks, vats, heap, dump, and in-situ conditions.
Leaching of chalcopyrite, chalcosite, covellite, and other sulfide mineral components in copper sulfide biomining contexts.
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