Potential of <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to Grow on and Bioleach Metals from Mars and Lunar Regolith Simulants under Simulated Microgravity Conditions
The biomining microbes which extract metals from ores that have been applied in mining processes worldwide hold potential for harnessing space resources. Their cell growth and ability to extract metals from extraterrestrial minerals under microgravity environments, however, remains largely unknown....
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2416 |
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| author | Anna H. Kaksonen Xiao Deng Christina Morris Himel Nahreen Khaleque Luis Zea Yosephine Gumulya |
| author_facet | Anna H. Kaksonen Xiao Deng Christina Morris Himel Nahreen Khaleque Luis Zea Yosephine Gumulya |
| author_sort | Anna H. Kaksonen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The biomining microbes which extract metals from ores that have been applied in mining processes worldwide hold potential for harnessing space resources. Their cell growth and ability to extract metals from extraterrestrial minerals under microgravity environments, however, remains largely unknown. The present study used the model biomining bacterium <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to extract metals from lunar and Martian regolith simulants cultivated in a rotating clinostat with matched controls grown under the influence of terrestrial gravity. Analyses included assessments of final cell count, size, morphology, and soluble metal concentrations. Under Earth gravity, with the addition of Fe<sup>3+</sup> and H<sub>2</sub>/CO<sub>2</sub>, <i>A. ferrooxidans</i> grew in the presence of regolith simulants to a final cell density comparable to controls without regoliths. The simulated microgravity appeared to enable cells to grow to a higher cell density in the presence of lunar regolith simulants. Clinostat cultures of <i>A. ferrooxidans</i> solubilised higher amounts of Si, Mn and Mg from lunar and Martian regolith simulants than abiotic controls. Electron microscopy observations revealed that microgravity stimulated the biosynthesis of intracellular nanoparticles (most likely magnetite) in anaerobically grown <i>A. ferrooxidans</i> cells. These results suggested that <i>A. ferrooxidans</i> has the potential for metal bioleaching and the production of useful nanoparticles in space. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:32:50Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:32:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6ea9b6b5baf42c18f148da7a4fd51b72023-11-23T09:37:38ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-11-01912241610.3390/microorganisms9122416Potential of <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to Grow on and Bioleach Metals from Mars and Lunar Regolith Simulants under Simulated Microgravity ConditionsAnna H. Kaksonen0Xiao Deng1Christina Morris2Himel Nahreen Khaleque3Luis Zea4Yosephine Gumulya5Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Land and Water, Floreat 6014, AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Land and Water, Floreat 6014, AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Land and Water, Floreat 6014, AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Land and Water, Floreat 6014, AustraliaBioServe Space Technologies, Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USACommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Land and Water, Floreat 6014, AustraliaThe biomining microbes which extract metals from ores that have been applied in mining processes worldwide hold potential for harnessing space resources. Their cell growth and ability to extract metals from extraterrestrial minerals under microgravity environments, however, remains largely unknown. The present study used the model biomining bacterium <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to extract metals from lunar and Martian regolith simulants cultivated in a rotating clinostat with matched controls grown under the influence of terrestrial gravity. Analyses included assessments of final cell count, size, morphology, and soluble metal concentrations. Under Earth gravity, with the addition of Fe<sup>3+</sup> and H<sub>2</sub>/CO<sub>2</sub>, <i>A. ferrooxidans</i> grew in the presence of regolith simulants to a final cell density comparable to controls without regoliths. The simulated microgravity appeared to enable cells to grow to a higher cell density in the presence of lunar regolith simulants. Clinostat cultures of <i>A. ferrooxidans</i> solubilised higher amounts of Si, Mn and Mg from lunar and Martian regolith simulants than abiotic controls. Electron microscopy observations revealed that microgravity stimulated the biosynthesis of intracellular nanoparticles (most likely magnetite) in anaerobically grown <i>A. ferrooxidans</i> cells. These results suggested that <i>A. ferrooxidans</i> has the potential for metal bioleaching and the production of useful nanoparticles in space.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2416<i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i>bioleachingmicrogravitylunar and Mars regolithspace mining |
| spellingShingle | Anna H. Kaksonen Xiao Deng Christina Morris Himel Nahreen Khaleque Luis Zea Yosephine Gumulya Potential of <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to Grow on and Bioleach Metals from Mars and Lunar Regolith Simulants under Simulated Microgravity Conditions Microorganisms <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> bioleaching microgravity lunar and Mars regolith space mining |
| title | Potential of <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to Grow on and Bioleach Metals from Mars and Lunar Regolith Simulants under Simulated Microgravity Conditions |
| title_full | Potential of <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to Grow on and Bioleach Metals from Mars and Lunar Regolith Simulants under Simulated Microgravity Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Potential of <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to Grow on and Bioleach Metals from Mars and Lunar Regolith Simulants under Simulated Microgravity Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential of <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to Grow on and Bioleach Metals from Mars and Lunar Regolith Simulants under Simulated Microgravity Conditions |
| title_short | Potential of <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> to Grow on and Bioleach Metals from Mars and Lunar Regolith Simulants under Simulated Microgravity Conditions |
| title_sort | potential of i acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans i to grow on and bioleach metals from mars and lunar regolith simulants under simulated microgravity conditions |
| topic | <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i> bioleaching microgravity lunar and Mars regolith space mining |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2416 |
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