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Evaluation of Different Amino Acids on Growth and Cyanide Production by Bacillus megaterium for Gold Recovery

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  • Fariborz Faraji

    (Hydrometallurgy and Environment Laboratory, The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen’s University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Harshit Mahandra

    (Hydrometallurgy and Environment Laboratory, The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen’s University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Ahmad Ghahreman

    (Hydrometallurgy and Environment Laboratory, The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen’s University, 25 Union Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

Abstract

Bio-cyanidation, as a sustainable and effective method to extract gold from primary and secondary resources, has attracted attention because of its environmental friendliness and economic benefits. The effect of amino acids on bio-cyanide production using Bacillus megaterium ( B. megaterium ) is a less explored area in this field and is the main interest of this study. Here, the effect of glycine, threonine, and glutamine over a concentration range of 0 to 10 g/L was investigated. The results showed at equal concentration of amino acids (5 g/L), glycine yields (maximum ca. 110 mg/L) a higher concentration of biogenic cyanide (bio-CN), while glutamine and threonine produce less (maximum ca. 74 mg/L and ca. 64 mg/L, respectively). For the first time, optimization of mixing the three amino acids was investigated and revealed more significant roles for glycine and glutamine in stimulation of bio-CN by B. megaterium . The interactions involved in the biosynthesis of bio-CN were explained with a reference to metabolic pathways and the cycle of the bacteria. In mixed amino acids, the optimum medium for bio-CN production was identified to be 2.84 g/L glycine, 3.0 g/L glutamine in the absence of threonine, which could produce a high concentration of ca. 86 mg/L bio-CN, resulting in gold leaching efficiency comparable to chemical cyanide.

Suggested Citation

  • Fariborz Faraji & Harshit Mahandra & Ahmad Ghahreman, 2022. "Evaluation of Different Amino Acids on Growth and Cyanide Production by Bacillus megaterium for Gold Recovery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9639-:d:881060
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yanan Dong & Peiju Yang & Shizhen Zhao & Yuehui Li, 2020. "Reductive cyanation of organic chlorides using CO2 and NH3 via Triphos–Ni(I) species," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kumar, Anil & Shemi, Alan & Chipise, Liberty & Moodley, Sanchia & Yah, Clarence S. & Ndlovu, Sehliselo, 2023. "Can microbial Bio-CN be a sustainable alternative to the chemical cyanidation of precious metals? An update and way forward," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).

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