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Minerals
Special Issues
Bioleaching of Metals: Current Applications and Future Directions
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Bioleaching of Metals: Current Applications and Future Directions

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 1676

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rosina Nkuna

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg (Doornfontein Campus), Johannesburg P.O. Box 17011, South Africa
Interests: bioleaching; bioremediation; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tonderayi Matambo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Competency in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Cnr Pioneer and Christian De Wet Roads, Private Bag X6, Florida 1710, South Africa
Interests: biotechnology; bioprocessing; lignocellulosic biomass; enzymatic hydrolysis; bioethanol; biogas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The interactions between microbes and minerals have shaped earth's environment for billions of years, influencing processes such as metal cycling, soil formation, and pollutant remediation. Currently, these interactions are applied in sustainable practices such as metal recovery via bioleaching and the bioremediation of contaminated environments. Thus, understanding the mechanisms behind these processes is crucial for advancing eco-friendly technologies and mitigating the environmental impact of mining and industrial activities.

This Special Issue aims to present recent advancements in environmental mineralogy and biogeochemistry, focusing on the dynamic relationships between microorganisms, minerals, and their surrounding environments. By integrating insights from microbiology, geochemistry, and bioinformatics, these studies will shed light on how microorganisms mediate mineral transformations and contribute to environmental processes.

The Special Issue welcomes submissions that include original scientific research and reviews in the following areas:

  1. The application of microbial processes for the bioremediation of pollutants and the recovery of valuable metals from ores and industrial waste.
  2. Community-level studies of microorganisms in mineral-rich environments, supported by bioinformatics and metagenomics approaches.
  3. Research on the role of microbes in metal and nutrient cycling in natural and contaminated environments.

Dr. Rosina Nkuna
Dr. Tonderayi Matambo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microbial–mineral interactions
  • bioleaching
  • bioremediation
  • metal cycling
  • environmental sustainability

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

30 pages, 1648 KB  
Review
From Omics to Applications: How Bioinformatics and Multi-Omics Approaches Are Revolutionizing Metal Bioleaching
by Rosina Nkuna, Nikwando Mohlomi and Tonderayi S. Matambo
Minerals 2026, 16(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16010056 - 5 Jan 2026
Viewed by 443
Abstract
The integration of multi-omics approaches is changing microbial biotechnology towards greater environmental sustainability. This review aims to critically evaluate the application of integrative multi-omics and bioinformatics approaches to elucidate the microbial mechanisms underlying bioleaching, with a particular emphasis on key chemolithoautotrophic bacteria and [...] Read more.
The integration of multi-omics approaches is changing microbial biotechnology towards greater environmental sustainability. This review aims to critically evaluate the application of integrative multi-omics and bioinformatics approaches to elucidate the microbial mechanisms underlying bioleaching, with a particular emphasis on key chemolithoautotrophic bacteria and filamentous fungi. Scientists can now reveal and understand the complex molecular mechanisms that allow microbes to survive in extreme environments that are rich in metal through the integration of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This review shows how the use of multi-omics approaches reveals the interconnected stress responses in important bioleaching bacteria, such as Acidithiobacillus, and fungi like Trichoderma, establishing a connection between genes and their functions. This comprehensive understanding is achieved through the application of advanced computational technologies. Moreover, this review assesses the bioinformatics pipelines, from genome assembly to differential expression analysis, using tools such as DESeq2, while highlighting how machine learning and metabolic modelling can be used to predict interactions and enhance consortia for practical applications in bioleaching. Challenges such as data complexity and expenses exist; however, the field is on the verge of significant advancements. Emerging technologies, especially single-cell omics and CRISPR-based modifications, offer unmatched accuracy in modifying microbial systems. Ultimately, the combination of advanced omics with complex bioinformatics creates a strong foundation for developing next-generation, high-efficiency microbial strategies for environmental metal recovery from waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioleaching of Metals: Current Applications and Future Directions)
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21 pages, 807 KB  
Review
From Solid to Solution: How Surface-Active Agents Influence Bioleaching Efficiency and Bacteria–Mineral Interactions
by Agnieszka Pawlowska and Krzysztof Jan Legawiec
Minerals 2025, 15(10), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101094 - 21 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 780
Abstract
The search for sustainable methods of metal recovery has led to increased interest in bioleaching as a sustainable alternative to traditional mineral processing. Despite the ecological benefits, the low bioprocess efficiency is limiting industrial applications. Surfactants offer a promising solution by modifying solid–liquid [...] Read more.
The search for sustainable methods of metal recovery has led to increased interest in bioleaching as a sustainable alternative to traditional mineral processing. Despite the ecological benefits, the low bioprocess efficiency is limiting industrial applications. Surfactants offer a promising solution by modifying solid–liquid interactions and improving metal extraction. The review summarizes the effect of surfactants, biosurfactants, polymers, and flotation reagents on the bioleaching efficiency of various mineral materials. It includes their impact on microbial activity, bacteria–mineral interactions, as well as mineral properties such as surface potential and hydrophobicity. Recent literature from the past decade is critically evaluated. Current knowledge limitations and future directions for the effective use of surface-active agents in metal bioextraction were discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioleaching of Metals: Current Applications and Future Directions)
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