RT Journal Article
T1 High-density biomass as a substrate for stimulating biosulfidogenesis in the deep layer of stratified acidic pit lakes
A1 Liu, Yutong
A1 Brennan, Rachel
A1 Sánchez España, Javier
A1 Vílchez Lobato, Carlos
A1 Fuentes, Juan Luis
A1 Macalady, Jennifer L.
A1 Burgos, William
AB Accumulation of harmful metal(loid)s in acidic pit lakes (APLs) is a serious environmental issue in mining districts. This lab-based study evaluated a novel method to stimulate dissimilatory sulfate reduction to promote the formation of sparingly soluble metal(loid)-sulfide minerals in the permanently stratified deep layer of Cueva de la Mora (CM), an APL in the Iberian Pyrite Belt in Spain. Solid-phase biomass was selected because it can be pressed into high-density forms that are dense enough to settle into the deep layer of a lake. This “direct delivery” of electron donor overcomes the current “indirect method” to stimulate algae growth in the upper layer and wait for algae to die and settle into the deep layer. We added the microalgae Coccomyxa onubensis (predominant in CM), Euglena gracilis (another acid-tolerant microalgae), and Lemna obscura (duckweed), as well as model biocomponents (amino acids, monosaccharides, and lipids) as substrates to stimulate biological sulfide production (biosulfidogenesis). We found that compared with biocomponents, high-density biomass required a shorter lag time before it was utilized. Temporal patterns of the production of sulfide and volatile fatty acids with high-density biomass were similar to patterns with amino acids, suggesting that amino acids may be the preferred substrate among the biocomponent monomers for the microbial community. Biosulfidogenesis led to the complete removal of metal(loid)s (Zn and As) contaminants from solution, mimicking the chemical composition of the deep layer. Desulfosporosinus, the only acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) identified in situ, was significantly enriched in the laboratory setup and presumably responsible for biosulfidogenesis.
PB American Society for Microbiology
SN 0099-2240
SN 1098-5336 (electrónico)
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28073
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28073
LA eng
NO Liu Y, Brennan RA, Sánchez-España J, Vilchez C, Fuentes J, Macalady JL, Burgos WD. 2026. High-density biomass as a substrate for stimulating biosulfidogenesis in the deep layer of stratified acidic pit lakes. Appl Environ Microbiol 92:e02369-25. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02369-25
NO This material is based upon work partially supported by the US National Science Foundation under Award No. EAR-2016826 to Dr. William Burgos, Dr. Jennifer Macalady, and Dr. Javier Sánchez-España. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US National Science Foundation. In addition, this research was partially funded by Penn State University through the Stan and Flora Kappe endowment and biogeochemistry scholarship through Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEE).
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 30 may 2026