Biohydrometallurgy of secondary metal resources: a potential alternative approach for metal recovery

Abstract

Research on biohydrometallurgy of secondary metal resources is primarily focused on the leaching of valuable metals. For secondary metal resources biological processing can be an economically more effective and environmentally friendlier alternative to traditional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes. Therefore, biohydrometallurgy is a rapidly evolving biotechnology that has already provided revolutionary solutions to old problems associated with recovery of metals by conventional pyrometallurgy and chemical metallurgy. This review evaluates various processes of recovery of metals from waste materials and commercial applications are discussed. Case studies and future technology directions are reviewed. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

Closing the Loop: Key Role of Iron in Metal-Bearing Waste Recycling

“…Constant low pH is, however, also important in metal bioleaching from waste. According to our results as well as published data [30,31] it is evident that iron plays an important role not only in bioleaching of metals from sulphide ores but also in bioleaching of metals from waste where they occur in metallic or oxidic form. Similarly as in nature, e.g.…”

Behavior of metal ions in bioelectrochemical systems: A review

“…Biological metallurgy or biohydrometallurgy is a combination of biotechnology and metallurgy, which is comparatively an economically effective and environment-friendly technique for the extraction of metals from ores and other secondary resources [221]. The microorganisms can be employed to play an important role during each process of hydrometallurgy to achieve biooxidation, bioleaching and bioreduction of metals [11,222,223].…”

Column bioleaching copper and its kinetics of waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

“…However, the process of recycling WPCBs using pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical is difficult to meet the requirements of the low-cost, green process and simple production technology and management. In recent years, bio-hydrometallurgical approach has increasingly gained attentions for recovery of metals from WPCBs, since it is simple, environmental friendly, and economical (Brandl et al, 2001;Erüst et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2009). Bioleaching process, also known as microbial leaching, is based on the ability of microorganisms to recover metals via the production of metabolites.…”