Distribution of thiobacillus ferrooxidans and leptospirillum ferrooxidans: implications for generation of acid mine drainage

Although Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans are widely considered to be the microorganisms that control the rate of generation of acid mine drainage, little is known about their natural distribution and abundance. Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies showed that at Iron Mountain, California, T. ferrooxidans occurs in peripheral slime-based communities (at pH over 1.3 and temperature under 30 degreesC) but not in important subsurface acid-forming environments (pH 0.3 to 0.7, temperature 30 degrees to 50 degreesC). Leptospirillum ferrooxidans is abundant in slimes and as a planktonic organism in environments with lower pH. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans affects the precipitation of ferric iron solids but plays a limited role in acid generation, and neither species controls direct catalysis at low pH at this site.     

Design and fabrication of topologically complex, three-dimensional microstructures

Two concepts for use in the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) microstructures with complex topologies are described. Both routes begin with a two-dimensional (2D) pattern and transform it into a 3D microstructure. The concepts are illustrated by use of soft lithographic techniques to transfer 2D patterns to cylindrical (pseudo-3D) substrates. Subsequent steps-application of uniaxial strain, connection of patterns on intersecting surfaces-transform these patterns into free-standing, 3D, noncylindrically symmetrical microstructures. Microelectrodeposition provides an additive method that strengthens thin metal designs produced by patterning, welds nonconnected structures, and enables the high-strain deformations required in one method to be carried out successfully.