氧化亚铁硫杆菌的稀有金属生物浸出技术研究进展

Research Progress on the Bioleaching Technology of Rare Metals by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

摘要: 嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans)是典型的化能自养嗜酸微生物，具有氧化Fe²⁺和还原态硫化物的能力，在金属生物浸出和绿色冶金过程中占据核心地位。本文在梳理国内外相关研究的基础上，系统综述了嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌的形态学与生理生化特征、铁硫能量代谢及其对多金属环境的耐受性，总结了该菌的分离纯化方法、保藏与复苏技术以及固定化策略的优缺点，重点解析了其在低品位金属矿、工业固体废物及含稀土/钇体系中的生物浸出应用进展。对比传统化学浸出工艺，嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌参与的生物浸出在降低药剂消耗和环境负荷方面具有明显优势，但仍存在浸出周期长、浸出率有待提高、矿物–微生物互作机理不清晰及高效浸矿菌株和工程化反应器不足等问题。最后，本文从高通量筛选与定向驯化、基因工程与代谢调控、新型固定化载体与过程强化以及与智能化监控相结合等方面，对嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌在稀有金属特别是稀土资源绿色开发中的应用前景进行了展望，为相关基础研究与工程放大提供参考。

Abstract: Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a typical chemolithoautotrophic acidophilic microorganism with the ability to oxidize Fe²⁺ and reduced sulfur compounds, playing a core role in metal bioleaching and green metallurgy. Based on a review of relevant domestic and international research, this paper systematically summarizes the morphological and physiological biochemical characteristics of A. ferrooxidans, its iron-sulfur energy metabolism, and its tolerance to multi-metal environments. It also summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the separation and purification methods, preservation and revival techniques, and immobilization strategies of this bacterium. The paper focuses on the progress of its application in the bioleaching of low-grade metal ores, industrial solid wastes, and rare earth/yttrium systems. Compared with traditional chemical leaching processes, bioleaching involving A. ferrooxidans has obvious advantages in reducing reagent consumption and environmental load, but there are still problems such as long leaching cycles, low leaching rates, unclear mechanisms of mineral-microbe interaction, and insufficient efficient leaching strains and engineered reactors. Finally, the paper looks forward to the application prospects of A. ferrooxidans in the green development of rare metals, especially rare earth resources, from aspects such as high-throughput screening and directed domestication, genetic engineering and metabolic regulation, new immobilization carriers and process intensification, and integration with intelligent monitoring, providing references for related basic research and engineering scale-up.