ABSTRACT
We investigated the potential role of the three strains ofThiobacillus caldus (KU, BC13, and C-SH12) in arsenopyrite leaching in combination with a moderately thermophilic iron oxidizer,Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans. Pure cultures ofT. caldus and S. thermosulfidooxidans were used as well as defined mixed cultures. By measuring released iron, tetrathionate, and sulfur concentrations, we found that the presence ofT. caldus KU and BC13 in the defined mixed culture lowered the concentration of sulfur, and levels of tetrathionate were comparable to or lower than those in the presence of S. thermosulfidooxidans. This suggests that T. caldusgrows on the sulfur compounds that build up during leaching, increasing the arsenopyrite-leaching efficiency. This result was similar to leaching arsenopyrite with a pure culture of S. thermosulfidooxidans in the presence of yeast extract. Therefore, three possible roles of T. caldus in the leaching environment can be hypothesized: to remove the buildup of solid sulfur that can cause an inhibitory layer on the surface of the mineral, to aid heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth by the release of organic chemicals, and to solubilize solid sulfur by the production of surface-active agents. The results showed that T. caldus KU was the most efficient at leaching arsenopyrite under the conditions tested, followed by BC13, and finally C-SH12.