AN UPDATE ON BIOLEACHING TECHNOLOGY: IRON BACTERIA AS A SOURCE OF OXIDIZING IRON TRACES FROM WATER SAMPLES

The removal of metals by the use of microbes is known as bioleaching in terms of oxidation or degradation of metal from complex raw materials or depots. Such microbial oxidation or bio-removal occurs in terms of sulphur degradation and oxidation (for example, sulphur oxidation, iron oxidation etc.). This process is thus known as bioleaching, which is related to the all metal oxidation processes like sulphur oxidation or iron oxidation. These microbes are mild, moderately thermophilic, iron-mineral, sulphur oxidizing bacteria, and extremely thermophilic. The iron bacterium occurs in nature in different genera viz. Thiobacillus ferroxidans, Leptospirillum ferroxidans, Ferrovum myxofaciens and Acidiphilium or Acidithiobacillus. These microbes are the source of enzymes and metabolites which are of industrial significance. The commercial exploitation of such features of iron bacterial consortia may be utilized in water treatment for the removal of iron. The use of such microbes via fermentation technology may be fruitful in the removal of iron from water. Few studies have been done in this aspect. The hypothesis of this concept, although it should be experimented with for significant results.