Bioleaching mechanism of Co and Li from spent lithium-ion battery by the mixed culture of acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing and iron-oxidizing bacteria

The bioleaching mechanism of Co and Li from spent lithium-ion batteries by mixed culture of sulfur-oxidizing and iron-oxidizing bacteria was investigated. It was found that the highest release of Li occurred at the lowest pH of 1.54 with elemental sulfur as an energy source, the lowest occurred at the highest pH of 1.69 with FeS₂. In contrast, the highest release of Co occurred at higher pH and varied ORP with S + FeS₂, the lowest occurred at almost unchanged ORP with S. It is suggested that acid dissolution is the main mechanism for Li bioleaching independent of energy matters types, however, apart from acid dissolution, Fe²⁺ catalyzed reduction takes part in the bioleaching process as well. Co²⁺ was released by acid dissolution after insoluble Co³⁺ was reduced into soluble Co²⁺ by Fe²⁺ in both FeS₂ and FeS₂ + S systems. The proposed bioleaching mechanism mentioned above was confirmed by the further results obtained from the experiments of bioprocess-stimulated chemical leaching and from the changes in structure and component of bioleaching residues characterized by XPS, SEM and EDX.     

Selective extraction of metals from zinc concentrate by association of chemolithotrophic bacteria

Ability for selective extraction of copper and zinc from zinc concentrate using association of chemolithotrophic bacteria was investigated. In the presence of bacterial association, the rate of leaching of zinc, copper, and iron was increased 3-fold, 4–5-fold, and 2-fold, respectively. The results indicate the maximum dissolution rate for zinc, then followed by copperand iron. It was revealed that addition of Fe³⁺ 2 g/l resulted in reduction of iron leaching and in 3-fold increase of leaching rate of copper at constant dissolution rate of mineral zinc. It is suggested that the intensification of copper leaching is connected with the activity of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria able to activate the mineral surface via elimination of passivation layer of elemental sulfur. It was concluded that sulfur-oxidizing bacteria play a significant role in copper leaching from zinc concentrate. A unique strain of mesophile sulfur-oxidizing bacteria was isolated from leaching pulp of zinc concentrate; in the perspective, it may serve as efficient candidate for performing of selective extraction of copper from zinc concentrate.     

嗜酸异养菌对自养菌Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans金属离子抗性和生物浸出的影响

【目的】了解嗜酸异养菌在诸如酸性矿坑水(AMD)和生物浸出体系等极端酸性环境中对浸矿微生物产生的影响。【方法】研究由嗜酸异养菌Acidiphilium acidophilum和自养菌Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans经长期驯化后形成的共培养体系分别在Cd2+、Cu2+、Ni2+和Mg2+胁迫下的稳定性;并将此共培养体系应用于黄铁矿和低品位黄铜矿的生物浸出实验。【结果】在上述4种金属离子分别存在的条件下,异养菌Aph.acidophilum均能促进At.ferrooxidans对亚铁的氧化,提高其对能源利用的效率。共培养体系中的异养菌Aph.acidophilum使At.ferrooxidans对Cu2+的最大耐受浓度(MTC)由2.0 g/L提高到5.0 g/L,而且共培养的细胞数量与2.0 g/L Cu2+条件下生长的At.ferrooxidans纯培养相似。另外,共培养中的At.ferrooxidans对Mg2+的MTC也由12.0 g/L提高到17.0 g/L。生物浸出实验中嗜酸异养菌Aph.acidophilum促进了At.ferrooxidans对黄铁矿样品的浸出,浸出率较其纯培养提高了22.7%;但在含铁量较低的低品位黄铜矿浸出体系中共培养和At.ferrooxidans纯培养的浸出率均低于33%。在加入2.0 g/L Fe2+的低品位黄铜矿浸出体系中,共培养和At.ferrooxidans纯培养的浸出率均得到提高,分别达到52.22%和41.27%。【结论】以上结果表明,Aph.acidophilum与At.ferrooxidans共培养在一定的环境胁迫下仍能保持其稳定性并完成各自的生态功能,并且嗜酸异养菌Aph.acidophilum适合在含铁量较高的浸出体系中与铁氧化细菌共同作用来提高生物浸出的效率。     

Leptospirillum-like bacteria and their role in pyrite oxidation

Two strains of Leptospirillum-like bacteria isolated from dumps of Alaverdi and Akhtala sulfide ore deposits in Armenia were studied. The optimum and maximum temperatures for the growth of both strains were 37 and 40 degrees C, respectively. The pH optimum was 2.0-2.3. Bacterial growth and ferrous iron oxidation were inhibited by yeast extract. The pyrite-leaching activity of the Leptospirillum-like bacteria under mesophilic conditions was close to that of Acidithiobacillus ferroxidans and exceeded by 2.0-2.7 times the activity of these moderately thermophilic bacteria at 37 degrees C. The leaching of pyrite by Leptospirillum-like bacteria increased in the presence of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, particularly, in their association with a thermotolerant sulfur-oxidizing bacterium.     

铁锰氧化物提高巴斯德梭菌电子输出率

[背景]发酵型异化金属还原菌通过发酵获取能量,同时也具有一定的异化还原变价金属氧化物的能力,关于变价金属氧化物对发酵型异化金属还原菌电子输出率的影响还知之甚少。[目的]探究铁锰氧化物(Fe2O3/MnO2)对发酵型异化金属还原菌Clostridium pasteurianum电子输出率的影响。[方法]将不同浓度Fe2O3/MnO2添加到以葡萄糖为底物并接种5%C.pasteurianum的发酵体系中,利用电化学工作站检测C.pasteurianum电化学特性;以菲啰嗪(Ferrozine)显色法和甲醛肟法分别测定发酵体系中Fe(Ⅱ)、Mn(Ⅱ)含量;气相色谱、高效液相色谱检测发酵底物葡萄糖及代谢产物(乙酸、丁酸、CO2和H2)随发酵时间的变化情况;最后计算发酵过程的电子输出率。[结果]研究表明,接种C.pasteurianum的微生物燃料电池可以检测到电流的产生,最大电流密度为0.93 mA/m^2;随着发酵时间的推移,反应体系中Fe(Ⅱ)和Mn(Ⅱ)的浓度逐渐增高;Fe2O3/MnO2的添加使发酵体系中葡萄糖消耗量提高了9.4%/7.7%,同时,乙酸产量提高了37.5%/25.0%,丁酸产量提高了22.7%/6.8%,氢气产量提高了21.6%/9.8%,而总的电子输出率则提高了24.27%/10.82%;添加铁锰氧化物的实验组pH值与对照组相比无显著差异。[结论]铁锰氧化物的添加可以提高C.pasteurianum的电子输出率,其原因可能是增加了葡萄糖消耗和缓冲pH值。研究结果为揭示变价金属氧化物影响发酵型异化金属还原菌电子输出的规律提供了证据,并进一步拓展了对变价金属氧化物与发酵型异化金属还原菌之间相互作用机制的认识。     

Enhancing Manganese Recovery from Low-Grade Ores by Using Mixed Culture of Indigenously Isolated Bacterial Strains

Conventional leaching methods for manganese (Mn) recovery require strong acids and are threatening to the environment. Alternatively, the use of microbes for Mn recovery is environment friendly in nature. The present investigation compares the capacity of pure and mixed cultures of native bacterial strains for bioleaching of low-grade Mn ores. The ability of the isolated microorganisms to recover Mn was evaluated in shake flasks for 20 days under optimized conditions of pulp density (2%), sucrose concentration (2 g/100 mL), initial pH 6.5, and 30°C incubation temperature. In pure culture form, Acinetobacter sp. MSB 5 (70%) was found to have a higher bioleaching potential than Lysinibacillus sp. MSB 11 (67%). Mixed culture of Acinetobacter sp. MSB 5 and Lysinibacillus sp. MSB 11 was found to perform better than the pure cultures with 74% extraction of Mn. The presence of mixed culture increased the dissolution rate and the recovery percentage of Mn. The respective growth pattern of the cultures was in synchronization to their Mn bioleaching performances. This study underlines the importance of mixed cultures and Mn solubilizing activity of native bacterial strains for efficient Mn biorecovery.     

Physiology and kinetics of manganese‐reducing bacillus polymyxa strain D1 isolated from manganiferous silver ore

Manganese‐reducing bacteria were isolated from a manganiferous silver ore mining site using enrichment procedures. The most rapid Mn(IV) reducer was identified as Bacillus polymyxa and was designated as strain D1. Isolate D1 has no growth‐factor requirements and is mesophilic and neutrophilic. D1 respires glucose aerobically, under which conditions cyanide is bactericidal. Nonfermentable substrates such as lactate, acetate, citrate, and succinate cannot serve as sole carbon sources. D1 ferments glucose anaerobically, producing acetic acid, ethanol, and butanediol as major metabolic end products. Both anaerobic conditions and direct physical contact with pyrolusite (MnO₂) particles were necessary for manganese reduction. Strain D1 is unique in that manganese serves as an ancillary electron acceptor during anaerobic fermentation. Kinetic experiments showed that D1 reduced manganese three to five times as rapidly as the widely studied Mn(IV)/Fe(III)‐reducing microorganisms Shewanella putrefaciens MR‐1 and Shewanella putrefa‐ciens sp. 200. Strain D1 is capable of liberating silver via the reductive dissolution of refractory manganiferous ores.     

Manganese poisoning and the attack of trivalent manganese upon catecholamines

Human manganese poisoning or manganism results in damage to the substantia nigra of the brain stem, a drop in the level of the inhibitory neurotransmitter dopamine, and symptoms resembling those of Parkinson's disease. Manganic (Mn3+) manganese ions were shown to be readily produced by O-2 in vitro and spontaneously under conditions obtainable in the human brain. Mn3+ as its pyrophosphate complex was shown to rapidly and efficiently carry out four-electron oxidations of dopamine, its precursor dopa (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), and its biosynthetic products epinephrine and norepinephrine. Mn3+-pyrophosphate was shown to specifically attack dihydroxybenzene derivatives, but only those with adjacent hydroxyl groups. Further, the addition of Mn2+-pyrophosphate to a system containing a flux of O2- and dopamine greatly accelerated the oxidation of dopamine. The oxidation of dopamine by Mn3+ neither produced nor required O2, and Mn3+ was far more efficient than Mn2+, Mn4+ (MnO2), O2-, or H2O2 in oxidizing the catecholamines. A higher oxidation state, Mn(OH)3, formed spontaneously in an aqueous Mn(OH)2 precipitate and slowly darkened, presumably being oxidized to MnO2. Like reagent MnO2, it weakly catalyzed dopamine oxidation. However, both MnO2 preparations showed dramatically increased abilities to oxidize dopamine in the presence of pyrophosphate due to enhancement of the spontaneous formation of the Mn3+ complex. These results strongly suggest that the pathology of manganese neurotoxicity is dependent on the ease with which simple Mn3+ complexes are formed under physiological conditions and the efficiency with which they destroy catecholamines.     

Effect of iron and manganese on hydroxyl radical production by 6-hydroxydopamine: mediation of antioxidants

6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) neurotoxicity has often been related to the generation of free radicals. Here we examined the effect of the presence of iron (Fe(2+) and Fe(3+)) and manganese and the mediation of ascorbate, L-cysteine (CySH), glutathione (GSH), and N-acetyl-CySH on hydroxyl radical (*OH) production during 6-OHDA autoxidation. In vitro, the presence of 800 nM iron increased (> 100%) the production of *OH by 5 microM 6-OHDA while Mn(2+) caused a significant reduction (72%). The presence of ascorbate (100 microM) induced a continuous generation of *OH while the presence of sulfhydryl reductants (100 microM) limited this production to the first minutes of the reaction. In general, the combined action of metal + antioxidant increased the *OH production, this effect being particularly significant (> 400%) with iron + ascorbate. In vivo, tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry revealed that intrastriatal injections of rats with 6-OHDA (30 nmol) + ascorbate (600 nmol), 6-OHDA + ascorbate + Fe(2+) (5 nmol), and 6-OHDA + ascorbate + Mn(2+) (5 nmol) caused large striatal lesions, which were markedly reduced (60%) by the substitution of ascorbate by CySH. Injections of Fe(2+) or Mn(2+) alone showed no significant difference to those of saline. These results clearly demonstrate the role of ascorbate as an essential element for the neurotoxicity of 6-OHDA, as well as the diminishing action of sulfhydryl reductants, and the negligible effect of iron and manganese on 6-OHDA neurotoxicity.     

Microbial recovery and recycling of manganese waste and their future application: a review

Mineral resources have been counted as public assets with economic benefit since time immemorial. Due to the rising issue of decreasing mineral deposits, recovery of metals from several waste residues has become progressively more essential. Novel and efficient recycling processes have been on the rise globally. Manganese (Mn) as the fourth most industrially applicable metal generates an extensive quantity of metallic waste which not only leads to loss of precious metal but also results in environmental toxicity. Globally, around 7 million tons of high-grade ores are produced, whereas 8 million tons of Mn alloys are produced yearly. Therefore, it is of greater significance to recover and recycle Mn from various waste residues. Various physical and biological techniques have been developed for recycling Mn from waste residues. Traditional Mn extraction processes are costly and labor intensive in nature, on the contrary, bioleaching techniques using diverse microorganism’s, form the basis of an efficient, eco-friendly, and economically sustainable process of metal recovery. The quick progress in current methodologies to counteract the fast consumption of innate mineral resources involves the proper utilization of unused waste residues containing industrially important metals like Mn. This review focuses to enumerate diverse features of Mn recovery, efficient methodologies, bioleaching of Mn, merits of Mn bioleaching, and applications of recycled Mn along with the futuristic applications. Manganese recovery by means of bioleaching will play a major role in changing the present situation where innate assets are quickly diminishing and substitute for metal recovery methodologies are the demand of this time.     

Acquisition of manganous ions by mutans group streptococci.

The cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus sobrinus and S. cricetus were shown to have an absolute requirement for manganous ion in order to bind glucans or to adhere to glass in the presence of sucrose. The bacteria possessed a reasonably high affinity transport system for 54Mn2+, yielding a Km of about 12 microM. The Vmax for uptake of 54Mn2+ in S. sobrinus was increased when the bacteria were grown in Mn-depleted medium, but the Km remained the same. There was no evidence for two Mn2+ uptake systems, commonly observed for many bacteria. Ions such as Ca2+, Co2+, Co3+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Hg2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ did not inhibit the uptake of 54Mn2+ by the bacteria, although Cd2+ was a potent inhibitor. Fractionation experiments showed that manganese was distributed in protoplasts (67%) and in the cell wall (33%). Approximately 80% of the 54Mn2+ in S. sobrinus was rapidly exchangeable with nonradioactive Mn2+. Electron spin resonance experiments showed that all of the manganese was bound or restricted in mobility. Proton motive force-dissipating agents increased the acquisition of 54Mn2+ by the streptococci, probably because the wall became more negatively charged when the cell could no longer produce protons.     

Leptospirillum-Like Bacteria and Evaluation of Their Role in Pyrite Oxidation

Two strains of Leptospirillum-like bacteria isolated from dumps of Alaverdi and Akhtala sulfide ore deposits in Armenia were studied. The optimum and maximum temperatures for the growth of both strains were 37 and 40°C, respectively. The pH optimum was 2.0–2.3. Bacterial growth and ferrous iron oxidation were inhibited by yeast extract. The pyrite-leaching activity of the Leptospirillum-like bacteria under mesophilic conditions was close to that of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and exceeded by 2.0–2.7 times the activity of these moderately thermophilic bacteria at 37°C. The leaching of pyrite by Leptospirillum-like bacteria increased in the presence of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, particularly, in their association with a thermotolerant sulfur-oxidizing bacterium.     

Non-periodic trends in the oxidative dissolution of transition metals by manganese(III) acetate

As part of a study designed to synthesize the proposed high temperature superconductor MoN, molybdenum powder was reacted with manganese(III) acetate and sodium azide in refluxing glacial acetic acid. No MoN was found. Instead, rapid and complete oxidative dissolution of the metal to soluble forms of Mo(VI) were observed. Removal of the azide or replacement of the azide by chloride had no qualitative effect. Other metals were studied and four groups may be discerned: (1) quantitative dissolution in cold, pure acetic acid - Mn, Fe, Co; (2) quantitative dissolution in refluxing Mn(III) solution  Cu, Mo, In, Sn; (3) partial dissolution in refluxing Mn(III) solution  Ni, V; (4) no reaction  Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, Cr, W, Re, Rh, Ru, and Pt. Use of preformed metal nitrides, e.g. MoN_0.6, and variation of the oxidant, e.g. replacing Mn(III) by Fe(III) or by Co(III), resulted in little qualitative change. Some unsuccessful attempts to explain this include literature periodic trends for transition metal chemistry and Pourbaix's electrochemical ‘thermodynamic and practical nobility scales’ for corrosion by aqueous media.     

Bacterial leaching of manganese ores

Leaching of various types of ores, containing 12-30% manganese, by the thiobacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was studied. Leaching of reduced ores (manganocalcite and manganiferous limestone) was mediated mainly by degradation of manganiferous minerals (by sulfuric acid produced in the course of bacterial oxidation of pyrite or sulfur). Bacterial treatment of the ores for 144 and 192 h allowed solubilization of 96-98% of manganese. Inoculation of bacteria into pulp with pyrite increased the rate of leaching of oxide ore (psilomelane) by 37%, and the degree of its extraction within 180 h increased from 80 to 97%.     

Antioxidant effect of manganese.

The antioxidant effects of manganese and other transition metals were studied as the inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation and crocin bleaching by peroxyl radicals. The peroxyl radical scavenging capacity was measured by competition kinetics analysis. While Zn(II), Ni(II), and Fe(II) were almost completely ineffective, Mn(II) and Co(II) showed a free radical scavenging capacity, exhibiting relative rate constant ratios respectively of 0.513 and 0.287. This indicates that Mn(II) is by far the most active. Therefore, the chain-breaking antioxidant capacity of Mn(II) seems to be related to the rapid quenching of peroxyl radicals according to the reaction R-OO. + Mn(II) + H(+)-->ROOH+Mn(III). The antioxidant mechanism is discussed considering the different reduction potentials of the examined cations.     

Effects of copper, iron, and ascorbic acid on manganese availability to rats.

Four experiments were done to characterize the interactions of copper, iron, and ascorbic acid with manganese in rats. All experiments were factorially arranged Dietary Mn concentrations were less than 1 micrograms/g (Mn0) and 50 micrograms/g (Mn+). Dietary Cu was less than 1 mg/g (Cu0) and 5 micrograms/g (Cu+); dietary Fe was 10 micrograms/g (Fe10) and 140 micrograms/g (Fe140). Ascorbic acid (Asc) was not added to the diet or added at a concentration of 10 g/kg diet. Experiment 1 had two variables, Mn and Cu; in Experiment 2, the variables were Mn and Asc. In Experiment 3, the variables were Mn, Cu, and Asc; in Experiment 4, they were Mn, Cu, and Fe. Definite interactions between Mn and Cu were observed, but they tended to be less pronounced than interactions between Mn and Fe. Cu depressed absorption of 54Mn and accelerated its turnover. In addition, adequate Cu (Cu+), compared with Cu0, depressed liver, plasma, and whole blood Mn of rats. Absorption of 67Cu was higher in animals fed Mn0 diets than in those fed Mn+. Ascorbic acid depressed Mn superoxide dismutase activity and increased Cu superoxide dismutase activity in the heart. The addition of ascorbic acid to the diet did not affect Mn concentration in the liver or blood. Absorption of 54Mn was depressed in rats fed Fe140 compared with those fed Fe10. Interactions among Fe, Cu, and Mn resulted in a tendency for Mn superoxide dismutase activity to be lower in rats fed Fe140 than in rats fed Fe10. Within the physiologic range of dietary concentrations, Mn and Cu have opposite effects on many factors that tend to balance one another. The effects of ascorbic acid on Mn metabolism are much less pronounced than effects of dietary Cu, which in turn affects Mn metabolism less than does Fe.     

Bioleaching of chalcopyrite by pure and mixed cultures of Acidithiobacillus spp. and Leptospirillum ferriphilum

Bioleaching is an economical method for the recovery of metals that requires low investment and operation costs. Furthermore, it is generally more environmentally friendly than many physicochemical metal extraction processes. The bioleaching of chalcopyrite in shake flasks was investigated with pure and mixed cultures of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Acidithiobacillus caldus, and Leptospirillum ferriphilum. The mixed cultures containing both iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were more efficient than the pure culture alone. The presence of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria positively increased the dissolution rate and the percentage recovery of copper from chalcopyrite. Mixed cultures consisting of moderately thermophilic L. ferriphilum and A. caldus leached chalcopyrite more effectively than mesophilic A. ferrooxidans pure and mixed cultures. The decrease of the chalcopyrite dissolution rate in leaching systems containing A. ferrooxidans after 12–16 days coincided with the formation of jarosite precipitation as a passivation layer on the mineral surface during bioleaching. Low pH significantly reduces jarosite formation in pure and mixed cultures of L. ferriphilum and A. caldus.     

Emerging themes in manganese transport,biochemistry and pathogenesis in bacteria

Though an essential trace element, manganese is generally accorded little importance in biology other than as a cofactor for some free radical detoxifying enzymes and in the photosynthetic photosystem II. Only a handful of other Mn2+-dependent enzymes are known. Recent data, primarily in bacteria, suggest that Mn2+-dependent processes may have significantly greater physiological importance. Two major classes of prokaryotic Mn2+ uptake systems have now been described, one homologous to eukaryotic Nramp transporters and one a member of the ABC-type ATPase superfamily. Each is highly selective for Mn2+ over Fe2+ or other transition metal divalent cations, and each can accumulate millimolar amounts of intracellular Mn2+ even when environmental Mn2+ is scarce. In Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, simultaneous mutation of both types of transporter results in avirulence, implying that one or more Mn2+-dependent enzymes is essential for pathogenesis. This review summarizes current literature on Mn2+ transport, primarily in the Bacteria but with relevant comparisons to the Archaea and Eukaryota. Mn2+-dependent enzymes are then discussed along with some speculations as to their role(s) in cellular physiology, again primarily in Bacteria. It is of particular interest that most of the enzymes which interconvert phosphoglycerate, pyruvate, and oxaloacetate intermediates are either strictly Mn2+-dependent or highly stimulated by Mn2+. This suggests that Mn2+ may play an important role in central carbon metabolism. Further studies will be required, however, to determine whether these or other actions of Mn2+ within the cell are the relevant factors in pathogenesis.     

Periodic changes in the oxidation state of manganese in photosynthetic oxygen evolution upon illumination with flashes

The pattern of manganese released from chloroplast membranes by a rapid temperature shock after various illumination regimes indicates that changes in the oxidation state of bound manganese occur during photosynthesis. Continuous illumination decreases by 35-40% the amount of Mn(II) released in the presence of K3Fe(CN)6 compared with a dark-adapted control. Following illumination and heat treatment, the addition of the reductant H2O2 to the samples causes an increase in the level of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-detectable manganese. The pH dependence of the H2O2 reduction indicates that the non-EPR-detectable manganese present in the heated sample after illumination is in the form of higher oxidation state compounds, e.g. MnO2. The light-induced Mn(II) decrease is reversible in the dark with t 1/2 approx. 40 s and can be prevented by the presence of the Photosystem II inhibitors 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea or fluorocarbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone during the illumination period. After a series of brief flashes of light the Mn(II) released by heat treatment oscillates over periods of four flashes. The pattern is similar to the O2 yield flash pattern and suggests that a cycling of manganese oxidation states is involved in the O2 evolution mechanism. The oscillations in the Mn(II) release are analyzed in terms of the current four-step model for O2 evolution. The analysis suggests that manganese is successively oxidized in the first two steps, but undergoes a partial reduction on the third step. This result is consistent with the concept that water undergoes a partial oxidation prior to the release of O2 from the water-splitting complex.     

Effect of ore solid concentration on the bioleaching of phosphorus from high-phosphorus iron ores using indigenous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from municipal wastewater

Dephosphorization of high-phosphorus iron ore is an unsolved problem worldwide so far. Biotechnology could be a cost-effective and environment-friendly way to solve this problem. A novel method for bioleaching of phosphorus from high-phosphorus iron ores using indigenous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from municipal wastewaters was first reported in this work. Before bioleaching, the contents of phosphorus and iron from the high-phosphorus iron ore used were 1.04 and 47.89% (w/w), respectively. The effects of ore solid concentration on the phosphorus bioleaching were investigated. It was found most of phosphorus existed in the form of apatite in the iron ore. After bioleaching for 41 days, the final ore slurry pHs at all solid concentrations 10–300 g/L were between 0.09 and 0.63. The average contents of phosphorus and iron in the bioleaching solid residues were 0.21 and 51.7% (w/w), respectively. The average removal percentage of phosphorus and percentage of iron lost were 82.3 and 1.7%, respectively. After bioleaching, the high-phosphorus iron ore was suitable to be used in the manufacture of iron and steel. The optimal ore solid concentration for bioleaching of phosphorus was 250 g/L under the bioleaching conditions. Thus, this bioleaching process seems to be economic and effective.