The Use of the Bioleaching-Based Technique for the Treatment of Polluted Sulphide Tailings: A Short Review

Abstract

Bioleaching can be used for the treatment of toxic elements in sulphide mine-wastes as a newly developed, green and cost-effective technology. The bacterial activity causes the remarkable dissolution of elements compared with chemical methods. Researchers have employed bioleaching for the separation of trace elements from different sources. However, the transfer of toxic elements from contaminated solid wastes to the aquatic ecosystem can be minimized by the production of a biogenic passivation layer. It has resulted in a new perspective of microbial leaching application for the remediation of toxic soils. In this paper, bioleaching-based techniques for a reduction in the environmental pollution of mine tailings were reviewed.