Biogeographical distribution of acidophiles and their effects around the Zijinshan heap bioleaching plant

ABSTRACT

The Zijin heap bioleaching plant started operation by the end of 2005; due to the proximity of the Ting River, concerns rose about the migration of acidophiles outside of the heap. In this study, 53 soil samples and 51 liquid samples were collected, and the biogeographical distribution of acidophiles was investigated using clone libraries and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the physicochemical characteristics were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP). The results indicated the bioleaching system had some influence on the surrounding environment. Both microbial community and physiochemical index emerged correlation with distance of sampling sites from bioleaching system, mainly limited in the zone 30 m outside bioleaching system. Correlation analysis indicated the migration of different acidophiles was influenced by different factors. Leptospirillum had higher migration capability than the other acidophiles, and such migration capability was one of the important influence factors for its distribution. Environment factors and survival ability were the key influence factors for Acidithiobacillus, Sulfobacillus and Ferroplasma to survive in the surrounding environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Biological safety
• heap bioleaching
• biodiversity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Mingjiang Zhang http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5225-0042

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 50904011], [grant number U1402234], [grant number 41573074]; public welfare fund of The Ministry of environmental protection [grant number 201509049]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province [grant number 2010J05158]; and Guangxi scientific research and technology development plan [grant number Guikegong14124004-3-1].