Luptakova A., Prascakova M., Kotulicova I., 2012, Occurrence of Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans Bacteria in Sulfide Mineral Deposits of Slovak Republic, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 28, 31-36.
The formation and treatment of acid mine drainage represents one from the biggest environmental problems relating to mining and processing activities. When sulfide ores are exposed to air, water and microbes (autotrophic and heterotrophic archaea and bacteria) during the exploitation of coals and metal deposits, acid mine drainage is formed. The acid mine drainage genesis is mostly caused by bacteria of Acidithiobacillus genus. The sulfide ore deposits can form during the mining, but especially after the mines closing, the “natural biogeoreactors” producing these contaminated waters. In Slovak Republic there are many localities with existing acid mine drainage generation conditions. The continuance of acid mine drainage generation is not possible to stop and there is no chance of situation self-improvement. It is necessary to respect this situation, monitor the quality of these waters and develop the methods of their treatment. The main goal of the article was to monitor the occurrence of autochthonous chemolithotrophic Fe- and S-oxidizing bacteria of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans species in water out flowing from the selected sulfide mineral deposits and their waste deposits on the territory of Slovak Republic.
