Screening and characterization of Acidiphilium sp. PJH and its role in bioleaching

Abstract A Gram-negative, facultative autotrophic bacterium strain PJH was isolated from the acidic mine drainages sampled in Dexing Mine, Jiangxi Province, China. The isolate grew in a pH range of 1.0−6.0, with pH and temperature optima of 3.5 and 40°C, respectively. Spectroscopic experiments show that strain PJH can synthesize polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences shows that the isolate belongs to the genus Acidiphilium . Strain PJH has the capability of leaching chalcopyrite. Bioleaching experiments show that it can improve the leaching rate of chalcopyrite by 10.3% when mixed with L. ferriphilium YTW315 after 35 d. Strain PJH has the potential in application to bioleach chalcopyrite with other mesophilic leaching microbes.