The main focus of this collection of peer-reviewed articles is the role that micro-organisms play in the treatment of minerals, metals, coal, oil, waste materials; and also in related environmental issues. Nowadays, as well as developing new technologies for the production of raw materials and useful products, major efforts have to be directed at the remediation of former mining sites and at environmental protection tasks associated with the various kinds of mining. This book presents the latest scientific and technological advances made in this area, and offers an invaluable 'one-stop' opportunity for biotechnologists, industrialists and environmentalists to make themselves familiar with current challenges and future trends in the field.In particular, it will enable scientists and engineers, from the first to the third world, to study biohydrometallurgical applications and learn how to implement them within their own particular society. In addition to the 126 papers selected for the September 2007 symposium, a keynote speech opens each of the six sessions on bioleaching technology, environmental problems, bioremediation, interfacial processes, molecular and microbiology, and biosorption. The keynote talks describe the Wismut uranium mining rehabilitation project, recent advances in electron transfer between biofilms and metals, genomics for biomining, and biological removal of ions. Other topics include removing sulfur from oil shale, microbial leaching of metals from printed circuit boards, metabolism peculiarities in bacteria of genus Sulfobacillus, lead and gold removal by sugar beet pectin gels, and a novel fuel cell catalyst for clean energy production.