Biotic acid mine drainage (AMD) suppression using lignin: Structure-activity relationship and molecular inactivation mechanism of inhibiting Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Key Points

• Lignin significantly inhibits the growth of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, affecting acid mine drainage remediation.
• Evidence shows a clear structure-activity relationship, linking lignin structure to its inhibitory effects on growth.
• Observational analysis reveals specific molecular mechanisms through which lignin leads to bacterial inactivation.
• These findings support lignin's potential as an environmentally friendly agent to mitigate acid mine drainage issues.