Microbiology for Minerals, Metals, Materials and the Environment

Better Understand the Connection between Microbiology and the Inorganic World

Microbiology for Minerals, Metals, Materials and the Environment links chemical, metallurgical, and other metal inherent systems with microbes, and analyzes the interdependence between them. Specifically intended to underscore the importance of microbes in environmental remediation in the mining industries, this text offers a basic and conceptual understanding of the role of microbes, and provides an extensive exploration of microbiology and metals. Each chapter is written by experts from research, industry and academia. The authors expand on the whole scale of microbiology applications relevant to minerals, metal, material, and environment. They elicit the applications of microbes for metal extraction (including mechanisms and methods) from primary ores/minerals and mining wastes, biomining and related concepts of microbial diversity and various operations, and molecular biology of microbes involved in such systems (extremophiles). They also address in detail biohydrometallurgy, biomineralisation, bioleaching, biobeneficiation, biosynthesis, and bioremediation and other related areas.

This book:

• Includes bacterial leaching, hybrid leaching, and biosynthesis related to different metals
• Covers recent developments in alternative procedures with the use of extremophiles and leaching bacteria
• Explains the imperative importance of bacteria in minerals and metals sector
• Addresses microbial interventions for waste cleanup and upgradation of minerals
• Compares existing processes with the new ones to elicit their importance
• Provides case studies on all respective topics by eminent researchers

A resource for researchers, graduate students, and industry professionals involved in chemical/mining/metallurgical engineering/environmental science/microbiology, Microbiology for Minerals, Metals, Materials and the Environment skillfully explains the symbiotic relationship between microbiology and minerals-metals-materials, and utilizes experts from across the globe.

Dr. Abhilash is a scientist in the biohydrometallurgy lab of the Waste Recycling and Utilisation Group of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, and assistant professor, AcSIR (Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research)-NML, India. He earned a degree in microbiology from Nagpur University, a postgraduate degree specializing in mineral biotechnology from Bangalore University, and a PhD (engineering) from Jadavpur University. Dr. Abhilash has authored one book and edited two compendium volumes, published over 65 papers in journals and conference proceedings, and presented over 30 papers at various symposia/colloquiums. He is also on the editorial board of international journals and a reviewer for journals in his field.

Dr. B.D. Pandey is chief scientist, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML), Jamshedpur, and professor, AcSIR (Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research)-NML, India. He earned his PhD in metal extraction and separation by solvent extraction and metal complexation from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. He has contributed extensively in the area of extraction of non-ferrous metals from both primary and secondary resources, including the extraction of rare earths. His research areas include chemical beneficiation, hydro- and bio-hydro-metallurgy and bio-remediation, sulphation roasting and waste processing, recycling, and environmental management. He has published over 200 papers in journals and conference proceedings, and holds 10 patents.

Dr. K.A. Natarajan is currently a NASI (National Academy of Sciences) senior scientist--Platinum Jubilee Fellow and emeritus professor at the Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. He earned his MS and PhD specializing in mineral beneficiation and hydrometallurgy from the University of Minnesota, USA. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore conferred on him the degree of doctor of science in 1992 for his pioneering research contributions in minerals bioprocessing. He is on the editorial board of several international journals in the area of mineral processing, and has published over 300 papers in leading journals.