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Effect of the surface microstructure of arsenopyrite on the attachment of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans in the presence of dissolved As(III)

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Abstract

Understanding bacterial adsorption and the evolution of biofilms on arsenopyrite with different surface structures is of great significance to clarifying the mechanism of microbe-mineral interfacial interactions and the production of acidic mine drainage impacting the environment. In this study, the attachment of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans cells and subsequent biofilm formation on arsenopyrite with different surface structures in the presence of dissolved As(III) was studied. Arsenopyrite slices with a specific surface were obtained by electrochemical corrosion at 0.26 V. The scanning electronic microscopy-energy dispersion spectra analyses indicated that the arsenopyrite surface deficient in sulfur and iron obtained by electrochemical treatment was not favorable for the initial adsorption of bacteria, and the addition of As(III) inhibited the adsorption of microbial cells. Epifluorescence microscopy showed that the number of cells attaching to the arsenopyrite surface increased with time; however, biofilm formation was delayed significantly when As(III) was added.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51774342, 41802038, U1608254, 51861135305, and 41830318) and Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility Public User Program (2018-BEPC-PT-002240).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Zhen Xue, Zhen-yuan Nie, Hong-chang Liu, Wei-bo Ling, Qian Pan & Jin-lan Xia

  2. Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Zhen-yuan Nie, Hong-chang Liu & Jin-lan Xia

  3. Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Lei Zheng, Chen-yan Ma & Yi-dong Zhao

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  1. Zhen Xue
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  2. Zhen-yuan Nie
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Correspondence to Hong-chang Liu or Jin-lan Xia.

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Xue, Z., Nie, Zy., Liu, Hc. et al. Effect of the surface microstructure of arsenopyrite on the attachment of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans in the presence of dissolved As(III). Int J Miner Metall Mater 28, 1135–1144 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2231-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2231-9

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