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

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.