Biotechnological magnesite enrichment using a carbonate dissolving microorganism, Lactococcus sp.

• We have showed that Lactococcus spp. has CaCO3 dissolution ability.
• We have showed that magnesite enrichment can be performed with Lactococcus spp.
• We have reported that Lactococcus spp. has no pathogenic properties.

The usage of magnesite strictly depends on its impurities. CaCO3 is the major impurity in magnesite ores. The amount of CaCO3 should be less than 1% for the quality and economical use of magnesite ores. Some magnesite ores in Turkey cannot be used due to high amount of CaCO3 (≥ 3%). This study aims to investigate an alternative biotechnological method for decalcification of magnesite ores by using a microorganism (Lactococcus spp.). The amount of CaCO3 was reduced from 2.94% to 0.57%. This reduction improved the quality of magnesite ore by approximately 80.61%. The results showed that Lactococcus spp. can be used safely in industrial decalcification of magnesite ore as the microorganism has no pathogenic properties.