Biohydrometallurgy for Nonsulfidic Minerals—A Review

Bioleaching is a technology applicable to metal extraction from low-grade ores, ore beneficiation, coal beneficiation, metal detoxification, and recovery of metals from waste materials. The technology is environmentally sound and it may lower operational cost and energy requirement. Whereas leaching of sulfidic minerals using chemolithoautotrophic bacteria is the most studied and commercially exploitable aspect of mineral biotechnology today, there is a dearth of literature on the dissolution of nonsulfidic minerals. Biohydrometallurgy of nonsulfidic minerals involves the action of heterotrophic microorganisms. Heterotrophic bacteria and fungi have the potential for producing acidic metabolites that are able to solubilize oxide, silicate, carbonate and hydroxide minerals by reduction, acidolysis and complexation mechanisms. It is an important aspect of biohydrometallugy that requires development to meet future needs.     

Technical note: Efficiency of total demineralization and ion‐exchange column for DNA extraction from bone

We investigated whether a combination of recently introduced methods, total demineralization and ion‐exchange columns, would increase DNA recovery from old bone. Ten bone samples taken after a burial period of ∼60 years were used in this study. Bone powder was digested using total or incomplete demineralization. DNA was extracted by the standard organic method. The DNA extract was purified with ion‐exchange columns or QIAquick® spin columns. The efficiency of different DNA extraction methods was compared in terms of DNA concentration, inhibitors generated by real‐time PCR, and conventional STR typing results. The mean DNA concentration using the total demineralization method is ∼3 times higher than that using the incomplete demineralization method. For DNA purification, the method using QIAquick® spin columns appeared to yield approximately double the DNA than the method using ion‐exchange columns. Furthermore, 2 out of 10 samples showed higher levels of inhibition with C_T values of IPC ≥30 cycles when using only ion‐exchange columns. In STR results, total demineralization yielded more locus profiles by 4.2 loci than incomplete demineralization, and QIAquick® spin columns also yielded more locus profiles by 3.5 loci than ion‐exchange columns. Total demineralization of bone powder significantly increased DNA yield and improved STR typing results. However, the use of ion‐exchange columns was not efficient when compared with the method using QIAquick® spin columns. It is suggested that the combination of total demineralization and QIAquick® spin columns lead to greatly improved STR typing results. Am J Phys Anthropol 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A three-species biofilm model for the evaluation of enamel and dentin demineralization

Although Streptococcus mutans biofilms have been useful for evaluating the cariogenic potential of dietary carbohydrates and the effects of fluoride on dental demineralization, a more appropriate biofilm should be developed to demonstrate the influence of other oral bacteria on cariogenic biofilms. This study describes the development and validation of a three-species biofilm model comprising Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Streptococcus gordonii for the evaluation of enamel and dentin demineralization after cariogenic challenges and fluoride exposure. Single- or three-species biofilms were developed on dental substrata for 96?h, and biofilms were exposed to feast and famine episodes. The three-species biofilm model produced a large biomass, mostly comprising S. mutans (41%) and S. gordonii (44%), and produced significant demineralization in the dental substrata, although enamel demineralization was decreased by fluoride treatment. The findings indicate that the three-species biofilm model may be useful for evaluating the cariogenic potential of dietary carbohydrates other than sucrose and determining the effects of fluoride on dental substrata.     

Demineralization of coal by stepwise bioleaching: a comparative study of three Indian coals by fourier transform infra red and X-ray diffraction techniques

A method was devised for the removal of deleterious minerals and metals from high ash-containing Indian coals. A selective enriched mixed culture developed for this purpose was used for stepwise aerobic bioleaching of two high ash Indian bituminous coals (Topa coal and Godavari coal) and Neyveli lignite. The process of bioleaching resulted in the removal of more than 50% of the mineral matter in five repeated steps and thus produced relatively demineralized, clean coal. Various parameters were optimized for bioleaching in order to maximize the removal of mineral matter. Based on the above studies a two-step pilot experiment was conducted under optimum conditions. The results obtained indicated removal of 75% of the mineral matter from one of the coals. The changes in mineral matter composition of these coals were evaluated using Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The results indicated a decrease in the intensity of many peaks when seen in combination with the amount of mineral matter removed from the bioleached coals. The mechanism of the bioleaching process is discussed and many uses of the clean coal produced are suggested.     

The macro nutrient removal efficiencies of a vertical flow constructed wetland fed with demineralized cheese whey powder solution

This study aims to remove the macro-sized nutrients that are present in the cheese whey powder solution through the use of constructed wetland systems. For this purpose, 70% and 40% demineralized solutions of cheese whey powder were used. For both concentrations, control reactors are run in parallel with Typha angustifolia planted reactors for the duration of a 92 day period. Zeolite and gravel were used as the filling material. The planted reactor, which was fed with the 70% solution, was named as Cheese Whey Powder Solution (CWPS) 1 and its unplanted control was named CWPS 2 while the reactor, which was fed with the 40% solution, was named as CWPS 3 and its unplanted control was named CWPS 4. The removal of COD, PO4-P and NH4-N were obtained as 37.47%, 45.62%, and 68.88% in CWPS 1; 24.89%, 35.74%, and 63.15% in CWPS 2; 51.15%, 54.96%, and 64.13% in CWPS 3; and 28.35%, 23.99%, and 65.92% in CWPS 4, respectively.     

Cariogenicity of soluble starch in oral in vitro biofilm and experimental rat caries studies: a comparison

Aims:  Common belief suggests that starch is less cariogenic than sugar; however, the related literature is quite controversial. We aimed to compare cariogenic and microbiological effects of soluble starch in both a standard animal model and an oral biofilm system, and to assess the possible substitution of the animal model.
Methods and Results:  Six-species biofilms were grown anaerobically on enamel discs in saliva and medium with glucose/sucrose, starch (average molecular weight of 5000, average polymerization grade of 31), or mixtures thereof. After 64·5 h of biofilm formation, the microbiota were quantitated by cultivation and demineralization was measured by quantitative light-induced fluorescence. To assess caries incidence in rats, the same microbiota as in the biofilm experiments were applied. The animals were fed diets containing either glucose, glucose/sucrose, glucose/sucrose/starch or starch alone. Results with both models show that demineralization was significantly smaller with starch than sucrose.
Conclusions:  The data demonstrate that soluble starch is substantially less cariogenic than glucose/sucrose.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  By leading to the same scientific evidence as its in vivo counterpart, the described in vitro biofilm system provides an interesting and valuable tool in the quest to reduce experimentation with animals.     

Clinical assessment of non carious cervical lesion using swept‐source optical coherence tomography

Non‐carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) involve various forms of tooth loss with different etiologies. This study aimed to utilize swept‐source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT) at 1300 nm wavelength range in vitro and in vivo to evaluate and clarify the mechanism of NCCLs. In the in vitro phase, a dentin attenuation coefficient (μ_t) derived from the SS‐OCT signal at NCCL was compared with mineral loss obtained from transverse microradiography (TMR) to determine a μ_t threshold to discriminate demineralization of cervical dentin in vivo. In the clinical study, 242 buccal surfaces were investigated in 35 subjects. Presence and dimensions of NCCLs, cervical cracking and the degree of demineralization at the exposed cervical dentin were determined using SS‐OCT. Dentin demineralization was observed in 69% of NCCLs. SS‐OCT results confirm that dentin mineral loss and occlusal attrition were associated with larger NCCLs, and can be considered as an etiological factor in formation and progress of these lesions.

( A ) We determined the attenuation coeffcient (μ_t) threshold of SS‐OCT signal for the detection of demineralization (1.21) from in vitro study. DEM: demineralized dentin, sound: sound dentin. ( B ) Using the μ_t threshold, we observed NCCLs in vivo to detect the demineralization in cervical dentin. SS‐OCT scanning was performed along the red line. ( C ) SS‐OCT image obtained along the red line in B. In SS‐OCT, brightness of dentin beneath the NCCL was increased (arrow) compared with intact zone. The cervical dentin was slightly demineralized (μ_t: 1.25). e: enamel, d: dentin, g: gingiva.     

Halastatic demineralization in the vertebrae of Atlantic salmon, during their spawning migration

There was a significant decrease ( c . 10%) in the mineralization of the vertebrae, determined by analysis of quantitative microradiographs, of both sexes of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar during their ascending spawning migration. The decrease was hypothesized to be the result of halastatic demineralization, i.e. the removal of mineral substance with no degradation of the organic matrix of the bone.     

Kinetics of elemental content changes of bone tissue of mice during evolution under hypokinetic stress

Concentration of 13 elements in bone tissue of mice held in tightly spaced cages for 3 wk, which caused an acute stress reaction, was determined by means of neutron activation analysis. Functionally different bone tissues of mice skeletons—the femur, accomplishing both supporting and dynamic functions; the parietal bone, being practically immovable; and the ectopic bone, newly formed under kidney capsule in the place of syngeneic bone marrow implantation—were analyzed. Similar dynamics of the elemental composition of investigated bones was found: the progressive demineralization owing to the loss of Ca, P, Mg, and Fe is accompanied by the compensatory inclusion of Sr in the bone tissues. In the ectopic bone, it was not as high. During evolution under hypokinetic stress, the microelement concentrations (Zn, Cr, Rb, Ru, Br, Co, Sb) change significantly. Results obtained form the evidence for some system character of osteoporosis at limited mobility.     

An in vitro dynamic microcosm biofilm model for caries lesion development and antimicrobial dose-response studies

Some dynamic biofilm models for dental caries development are limited as they require multiple experiments and do not allow independent biofilm growth units, making them expensive and time-consuming. This study aimed to develop and test an in vitro dynamic microcosm biofilm model for caries lesion development and for dose-response to chlorhexidine. Microcosm biofilms were grown under two different protocols from saliva on bovine enamel discs for up to 21 days. The study outcomes were as follows: the percentage of enamel surface hardness change, integrated hardness loss, and the CFU counts from the biofilms formed. The measured outcomes, mineral loss and CFU counts showed dose-response effects as a result of the treatment with chlorhexidine. Overall, the findings suggest that biofilm growth for seven days with 0.06 ml min^?1 salivary flow under exposure to 5% sucrose (3 × daily, 0.25 ml min^?1, 6 min) was suitable as a pre-clinical model for enamel demineralization and antimicrobial studies.