Investigation the UV Effect on Uranium Bioleaching Process in Acidithiobacillus sp FJ2 ‎and its Possible Consequences on the CoxB Gene Sequence ‎

The increasing use of uranium as a suitable source of energy in various industries has led to the depletion of high-grade uranium mines in different countries. Today, the uranium bioleaching process has been used in different countries for easy and cheap access to uranium. In this process, microorganisms are used to extract uranium from low-grade mines. The Acidithiobacillus sp. FJ2 bacterium was exposed to UV radiation. Then, the uranium bioleaching process was conducted in the presence of bacteria exposed to UV and non-exposed bacteria. In followings, this gene was amplified by PCR technique after DNA extraction from bacterial species and coxB gene primer design. Subsequent to gene sequencing and editing with bioedit software, the final sequence of the coxB gene was determined from both bacterial species. Later than, the sequences were examined and compared to prove the presence or absence of the mutation in the radiation sample. The amount of uranium extraction in the presence of bacteria exposed to UV reached to 100% on the second day at the 5% pulp density, whereas the 96.36% extraction yield was obtained on the thirteenth day in pulp density of 50%. This amount was recorded in an unexposed bacterium, in the third and thirteenth days at 5& 50% pulp densities, respectively. The coxB gene sequence was identical in both bacterial specimens. Discussion and conclusion: In this study, UV irradiation to Acidithiobacillus sp. FJ2 increased the rate of uranium bioleaching in the pulp density of 5%, whereas uranium extraction yield was sustained in the 50% pulp density. These effects were independent to the coxB gene.