Development of Leptospirillum ferriphilum dominated consortium for ferric iron regeneration and metal bioleaching under extreme stresses

► Developed consortium SR-BH-L gave iron oxidation rate 1954 mg/L/h in SDB1 medium. ► It oxidized Fe2+ under major stress of 7.47 M ionic strength, 2.3 pH and 393.8 TDS. ► It showed 78.0% and 70.0% copper and zinc extraction from PBC. ► DGGE analysis indicated the presence of 11 OTUs in the consortium. ► RE digestion analysis of 16S rDNA showed dominance of Leptospirillum ferriphilum.