Microbial Roles in the Mining Industry: A Review of Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions

Abstract

Microorganisms have become essential components of contemporary mining operations because they facilitate metal recovery, detoxification, and sustainable extraction. The field of microbial mining, often known as bio-mining, is an environmentally acceptable substitute for chemical-based mining techniques. It helps with heavy metal bio-sorption, bioleaching, and bioremediation of mine waste. This paper critically looks at the methods, industrial uses, new developments, difficulties, and prospects for the future of microbial roles in the mining sector. Innovative technologies with the potential to transform sustainable mining practices like microbial nanotechnology, omics-based techniques, and synthetic biology are given particular attention.

 Keywords 

Extremophiles, Metallotolerant Bacteria, Acid Mine Drainage, Bioleaching, Bioremediation, Bio-Sorption, Microbial Mining, Environmental Biotechnology, And Bio-Hydrometallurgy.