Isolation, identification, and characterisation of fungi from a platinum mine
Date
2022
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Abstract
Mycohydrometallurgy is the application of fungi and their metabolites such as organic acids(OAs) for the extraction and recovery of metals through mechanisms such as bioleaching. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterise fungal isolates from a platinum mine to determine potential fungal candidates for bioleaching of a platinum concentrate. Fungi were isolated from platinum mining samples using traditional microbiological techniques and sixty-six isolates were identified based on their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions using Sanger sequencing, as members of either Ascomycota, Basidiomycota or Mucoromycota. Qualitative OA screening was conducted by inoculating isolates into Potato Dextrose Agar containing a pH indicator to select OA producing isolates. These isolates were quantitatively screened using high-performance liquid chromatography and showed the production of acetic, butyric, formic, lactic, propionic, and indole-3-acetic acid. Based on their OA production, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus microsporus, and Aspergillus terreus underwent tolerance tests to copper, chromium, and nickel. Their overall tolerance was low, suggesting that they are promising candidates for two-step direct bioleaching as it involves the growth of fungi prior to their exposure to the metal-containing solid material.
Description
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Molecular and Cell Biology to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022
Keywords
Mycohydrometallurgy, Platinum mine, Fungi