Use of some isolated fungi in biological Leaching of Aluminum from low grade bauxite

This study investigates the biological leaching of aluminum from low grade bauxite using isolated fungi. The objective was to assess the efficacy of indigenous fungal species, specifically Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum, in leaching aluminum from bauxite with less than 50% Al2O3 content. Methodology involved carrying out biological leaching tests in controlled conditions using a medium of Savored dextrose chloramphenicol agar and conducting experiments in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flasks at 28°C with 150 rpm agitation. Results indicated that indigenous fungi significantly enhanced aluminum solubilization, achieving a notable solubilization of 7080 mg of Al2O3/l at a pulp density of 15%. The leaching efficiency was influenced by the preheating of bauxite and was determined through wet chemical and atomic absorption spectrophotometry techniques. These findings contribute to the understanding of bioleaching processes and suggest that the selected fungi could serve as efficient agents for the extraction of aluminum from low grade ores.