This book describes emerging and established industrial processes of biomining technologies used for the recovery of metals of economic interest from, e.g. mineral ores, mining and electronic wastes using microbiological technologies. Multiple chapters focus on engineering design and operation of biomining systems. Several industrial case studies from China, Chile, Peru, Russia/Kazakhstan and Finland are included, which emphasises the practical approach of the book. The reader not only learns more about the biology, diversity and ecology of microorganisms involved in biomining processes, but also about microbial biomolecular and cultivation tools used in the biomining industry. Special emphasis is put on emerging biotechnologies enabling the use of biomining for recycling metals from e-wastes, waste streams and process waters. Finally, the future impacts and direction of biomining towards sustainability in a metal-demanding world are also highlighted. The book is aimed at an interdisciplinary audience involving operators and researchers working across disciplines including geology, chemical engineering, microbiology and molecular biology. This is reflected by the content of this book, as well as by its authors, who are all leading practitioners and authorities in their fields.

This textbook addresses global and local environmental problems and the involvement of microorganisms in their development and remediation. In particular, methodological aspects, some of them molecular genetic, for the study of microbial communities are considered. Overall, the prominent role of microorganisms in various material cycles is presented. In addition to biochemical principles for the degradation of environmental pollutants, the use of microorganisms in environmental biotechnological processes for the purification of air, water or soil as well as in environmentally friendly production processes is discussed. The book is intended for biologists with an interest in environmental microbiological issues, but also for students of process or environmental engineering, geoecology or geology, as well as students of other environmental science disciplines. For the 3rd edition, the authors have completely revised, corrected, updated and supplemented the book.

In diesem Fachbuch werden die globalen und lokalen Umweltprobleme sowie die Beteiligung von Mikroorganismen an der Entstehung und Beseitigung dieser Probleme angesprochen. Insbesondere werden methodische, teils molekulargenetischen Aspekte zur Untersuchung mikrobieller Lebensgemeinschaften berucksichtigt. Insgesamt wird die herausragende Rolle der Mikroorganismen in verschiedenen Stoffkreislaufen dargestellt. Neben biochemischen Grundlagen zum Abbau von Umweltschadstoffen wird der Einsatz von Mikroorganismen in umweltbiotechnologischen Verfahren zur Reinigung von Luft, Wasser oder Boden sowie in umweltschonenden Produktionsverfahren diskutiert. Gedacht ist das Buch fur Biologen mit Interesse an umweltmikrobiologischen Fragen, aber auch fur Studierende der Verfahrens- oder Umweltverfahrenstechnik, der Geooekologie oder Geologie sowie Studierende anderer umweltwissenschaftlicher Fachrichtungen. Fur die 3. Auflage haben die Autoren das Buch komplett durchgearbeitet, korrigiert, aktualisiert und erganzt.