Bioleaching

Bio recycling of metals Recycling of technical products Pollmann Katrin Kutschke Sabine Matys Sabine Raff ( WeLib.org )

Katrin Pollmann, Sabine Kutschke

The increasing demand of different essential metals as a consequence of the development of new technologies, especially in the so called 'low carbon technologies', requires the development of innovative technologies that enable an economic and environmentally friendly metal recovery from primary and secondary resources. There is serious concern that the demand for some critical elements might exce

An overview of the potential of eco friendly hybri 2017 Resources Conservat

Abhishek Kumar Awasthi, Jinhui Li

Most waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE or E-waste) is recycled in the informal sector, despite the availability of more sophisticated recycling technologies. Mechanical recycling is usually the first step, achieving maximum metal extraction but comes with health risks, high costs, and loss of secondary metal resources. Chemical methods offer a faster, yet metal-specific approach that

Minerals 2021, 11, 1255. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11111255

Srabani Mishra, Sandeep Panda

There is a growing interest in electronic wastes (e-wastes) recycling for metal recovery because the fast depletion of worldwide reserves for primary resources is gradually becoming a matter of concern. E-wastes contain metals with a concentration higher than that present in the primary ores, which renders them as an apt resource for metal recovery. Owing to such aspects, research is progressing w

Attempts to Stimulate Leaching Activity of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Strain TFBk

Alyona Y achkula, Olga Rozova

Autotrophic acidophilic bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a model species for studying metal bioleaching from low-grade sulfide ores and concentrates. Arsenopyrite gold-bearing concentrates are refractory and often processed using biohydrometallurgical approaches; therefore, it is important to develop methods to improve arsenopyrite bioleaching. In the present work, we have studied the po

Leaching of manganese from low-grade wad using sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and pyrrhotite

Kwang-Su Pyo, Chang-Il Song

In this study, we reported the basic results of our research about manganese leaching from low-grade wad using sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and pyrrhotite. The sulfur-oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans were used in this work. We first cultured sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in the media which contained pyrrhotite and then added wad in that culture media to leach manganese. The results showed

Chalcopyrite concentrate leaching with b

P.H.-M. Kinnunen, S. Heimala

Biological ferric iron production was combined with ferric sulphate leaching of chalcopyrite concentrate and the effects of pH, Fe3+, temperature, and solids concentration on the leaching were studied. The copper leaching rates were found to be similar at pH levels between 1.0 and 1.8, even in the presence of varying concentrations of Fe3+, which showed significant iron precipitation at higher con

2026 Mhandu Hydrometallurgical Gold Recovery Review

Takunda Joseph Mhandu, Ilhwan Park

The depletion of easily milled (free-milling) gold deposits has driven the mining industry to increasingly rely on refractory ores, particularly those containing arsenic (As)- and antimony (Sb)-bearing sulfides, for future gold (Au) production. Today, Au derived from refractory ores accounts for roughly one-third of global output, and this share is expected to increase further. This review discuss

2026 Ilkhani Biogenic Thiosulfate Gold Leaching from PCBs

Arshadi, A., Yaghmaei, S.

This study investigates biogenic thiosulphate as an environmentally friendly alternative to cyanide for gold leaching from waste printed circuit boards. Biogenic thiosulphate, an unstable intermediate formed during sulphur oxidation by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, was stabilised by pH adjustment and use of inhibitors; the effects of sodium fluoride and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate were evaluate

2026 Lee High Pulp Density Battery Bioleaching

Jeseung Lee, Seonjong Yun

Bioleaching is regarded as an environmentally sustainable process for recycling spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, at high pulp densities, its application becomes challenging due to reduced microbial activity caused by the toxic metal components in the LIB black mass. Accordingly, the applicability of bioleaching under high pulp density conditions requires systematic evaluation. In this

Effects of metal extraction liquors from electric vehicle batt 2022 Minerals

Linda Määtä, Reka Hajdu-Rahkama

This study reports the effects of metal extraction liquors that are used for production of electric vehicle batteries on biological iron and sulfur oxidation. These liquors include ammonium sulfate and organic solvent constituents, and thus are potentially stimulatory or inhibitory for heap bioleaching microorganisms. The effects of the liquors and their constituents were studied in batch bioassay

Bioleaching of arsenic rich cobalt mineral resources and eviden 2020 Hydrom

D. Barrie Johnson, Agnieszka Dybowska

Experiments were carried out to test the amenabilities of mineral deposits that contained cobalt deported in arseno-sulfide (cobaltite) and arsenide (skutterudite) minerals, to oxidative bioleaching at mesophilic temperatures and low pH. An ore sample from the Iron Mask deposit (Canada) and a mineral concentrate from a working mine (Bou Azzer, Morocco) were thoroughly characterised, both prior to

Bioleaching-assisted palladium (Pd) recovery from various sources and its application in biomedical purposes: a mini-overview

Suman Saha

Platinum group of metals (PGMs) are extensively used in numerous arenas as they have discrete physical and chemical properties. Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Iridium, and Osmium are the precise metals that have high catalytic activities, significant electrical conductivity, and high corrosion resistance. Based on the conventional technologies to recover platinum group of metals, several

Bioleaching-assisted palladium (Pd) recovery from various sources and its application in biomedical purposes: a mini-overview

Suman Saha

Platinum group of metals (PGMs) are extensively used in numerous arenas as they have discrete physical and chemical properties. Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Iridium, and Osmium are the precise metals that have high catalytic activities, significant electrical conductivity, and high corrosion resistance. Based on the conventional technologies to recover platinum group of metals, several

Fungal Bioleaching for Metal Recovery: Recent Progress and Technological Advances

Angélica Ribeiro Soares, Xinran Xu

Fungal bioleaching, as a green and sustainable technology for metal recovery, demonstrates unique advantages in addressing growing global metal demand and utilizing secondary resources. This review systematically summarizes recent progress and technological advances in fungal bioleaching for metal recovery. Fungi solubilize metals through three core mechanisms, acidolysis, complexolysis, and redox

Microbial Conversion of Wetland Plants to Organic Acids for Reductive Bioleaching of Metals (Manganese, Iron, and Nickel): Review

Rebecca Kwofie, Palas Borkar

This review focuses on invasive aquatic and wetland plants, such as cattail (Typha latifolia) L., common reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.), and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms), as feedstocks for microbial production of organic acids used in reductive bioleaching of manganese, iron, and nickel. These species are abundant, fast-growing, low in lignin relative to

2026 Borkar Manganese leaching with bio solubilized iron

Palas Kamlakar Borkar

In this study, we investigated the use of a mixed culture of metal-reducing microorganisms to facilitate the dissolution of manganese in a two-stage bioleaching system. The objective was to explore the efficiency of utilizing iron as a reductant for manganese extraction, while minimizing the formation of manganese carbonate precipitates. Our methodology involved a 250 mL bioreactor configured to e

2026 Halder Life cycle assessment of PCB bioleaching

Banhi Halder, Ragini Dutta

2026 Tonietti Sphingomonas Bioleaching of Critical Trace Metals

Luca Tonietti, Mattia Esposito

Biotechnological advances are transforming the potential for sustainable resource utilization in space exploration. Biomining, using microorganisms to extract valuable metals, has emerged as a viable strategy for in situ resource utilization (ISRU) in extraterrestrial environments. This study harnessed a comparative bioleaching analysis to investigate the organism Sphingomonas desiccabilis and its

2026 Ertan Bioleaching kinetics of metals in boron waste

Bengü ERTAN

This study utilized boron waste containing significant amounts of valuable metals as a secondary resource for metal recovery. Critical metals - lithium (Li), rubidium (Rb), and cesium (Cs) - identified in the boron waste were extracted via bioleaching using the fungus Aspergillus niger (A. niger). Biological methods such as bioleaching are considered low-cost and environmentally friendly and are p

2026 Chen Bioleaching critical metals from spent lithium ion batteries

Qi Chen, Yanling Gu

In recent years, owing to the extensive application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in large-scale energy storage, transportation systems, and portable electronics, the LIB market has expanded rapidly. Proper recycling of spent LIBs can significantly alleviate environmental and economic burdens. Bioleaching, as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for metal recovery from primary

Microbial Bioleaching of Critical Metals from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Biohydrometallurgical Approach

Kyriaki Kiskira, Lamprini-Areti Tsakanika

Biohydrometallurgical processing of spent lithium-ion batteries offers a low-impact route for critical metal recovery compared with conventional hydrometallurgy. In this work, the iron-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was evaluated for the bioleaching of cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), lithium (Li) and copper (Cu) from pyrolyzed industrial black mass derived primarily from LiCoO2-based

Rising demand for rare earth elements: A review of microbial bioleaching alternatives

Vijayarathna, Pradeep Wishwanath Samarasekere

Rising demand for rare earth elements (REEs) and the severe environmental impact of conventional extraction from phosphate minerals have intensified the search for green alternatives. This study aimed to synthesize microbial mechanisms, metabolic constraints, and process determinants specific to phosphate matrices within the context of REE bioleaching. A PRISMA-guided systematic review was conduct

A heap leach process for chalcopyrite ores in acidic chlor 2026 Hydrometallu

S.W. Robertson, A. Kotsiopoulos

While 70% of the world's copper resources are found in low-grade chalcopyrite ores, these are currently not amenable to heap leaching due to passivation of the mineral surface at ambient temperature. Several technologies have been developed for low-grade chalcopyrite ores, including microbial-assisted heap leaching and chloride-medium processes. This study proposes a chloride-medium heap leach pro

Bacterial acidic agents-assisted multi-elemental (Ni, Co, and Li) leaching of used lithium-ion batteries at high pulp densities

Ahmad Heydarian, Farzane Vakilchap

Accumulating used lithium-ion battery cathodes and associated environmental concerns necessitate efficient recycling strategies. This study introduces a breakthrough spent-medium bioleaching approach optimized for high-pulp-density conditions to address key challenges related to bacterial inhibition and sulfur availability for bacterial acidic agent production. Using response surface methodology,

Synergistic recovery of Pr, Eu, and Ce from gold mine tailings using bioleaching and oxalic acid pretreatment

Hoda Fereydouni, Tannaz Naseri

Mining activities produce significant amounts of gold mine tailings (GMT) that are rich in rare earth elements (REEs), yet effective extraction methods are limited. This study presents a novel approach combining bioleaching with oxalic acid pretreatment to recover Pr, Ce, and Eu from GMT. The pretreatment involved exposing the GMT to a 2 M oxalic acid solution at 90 °C for 6 hours, which enhanced

High efficiency rare earth element bioleaching with systems biology guided engineering of Gluconobacter oxydans

Alexa M. Schmitz, Brooke Pian

Biological methods are a promising route for the environmentally-friendly production of rare earth elements (REE), which are essential for sustainable energy and defense technologies. In this study, we aimed to enhance the REE-bioleaching capability of Gluconobacter oxydans by targeting key genetic mechanisms identified in previous research. The methodology involved the clean deletion of the phosp

Ultrasound enhances the recycling process and mechanism of lithium from spent LiFePO4 batteries by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Shaoliang Zhang, Qin Chen

In this study, we investigated the ability of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans to oxidize Fe2+ to Fe3+ and recover battery black powder, establishing a leaching system for decommissioned lithium iron phosphate battery black powder. Using ultrasonic waves, we aimed to enhance the leaching effect by removing impurities and promoting microbial activation through a cavitation reaction. A filter bag expe

Aerobic Bioleaching of Six Brazilian Laterite Ores with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Sulfobacillus species and Archaea at Various Conditions

Stefanie A. Hetz, Axel Schippers

Biohydrometallurgical laterite processing was explored at laboratory scale in this study. The extraction of nickel, cobalt, and other metals from six different laterite ores from three Brazilian deposits was tested via bioleaching in 2 L stirred tank reactors under aerobic conditions with acidophilic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and archaea. The experiments were run with three different mixed cultur

Removing heavy metals and improving the dewaterability of sewage sludge with the bioleaching process by Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans bacteria

Reza Shokoohi, Roya Najafi‑Vosough

Bioleaching technology is being developed as a cost-beneficial and environmentally friendly strategy for the removal of metal ions from sewage sludge. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the feasibility of bioleaching process for the removal of heavy metals (Pb, Al, Zn, and Cu) from sewage sludge using indigenous iron-oxidizing microorganisms. For this purpose, 10 mL of a sludge-enriched inocul

Bioleaching of uranium from ores and rocks using filamentous fungi

Tariq M. Bhatti, Olli H. Tuovinen

The purpose of this study is to review the role of filamentous fungi in the bioleaching of uranium from ores and rocks. Specifically, the paper evaluates how fungi produce short-chain fatty acids through fermentation and partial oxidation of organic compounds, which facilitate the dissolution and sequestration of uranium. This review highlights the efficacy of various ore types, including oxide, c

Sustainable Nickel Extraction from Low‑Grade Ores via Trametes versicolor: A Bioleaching Case Study on Olivine and Serpentine

İlker Acar, Özlem Gülmez

Nickel’s versatile properties and growing demand, particularly in stainless steel and electric vehicle industries, highlight the need for environmentally sustainable recovery methods amid depleting high-grade reserves. This study explores the bioleaching potential of Trametes versicolor OG2 for nickel extraction from chromite tailings, olivine, and serpentine under varying pH (4.5–6.3) and retenti

Optimizing Biogenic Cyanide Production Using Indigenous Cyanogenic Microorganisms for Bioleaching of Precious Metals

Anil Kumar, Alan Shemi

The present study investigated and optimized biogenic cyanide (bio-CN) production by using mine indigenous bacterial strains with the aim of extracting precious metals from Upper Group Two (UG-2) platinum group metals (PGM) ore. Among all the bacterial strains tested, under optimized conditions, Pseudomonas brassicacearum produced the highest bio-CN (14.1 ± 1 mg/L) and was therefore used in subseq

Bioleaching of Tetrahedrite by Iron‑ and Sulfur‑Oxidizing Bacteria

Daniel Kupka, Lenka Hagarová

This study describes the bioleaching of a flotation concentrate by acidophilic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria at ambient temperature in shake flasks. The concentrate was prepared from polymetallic Ag–Cu–Sb–siderite ores from Rožňava (Slovakia) and consisted of tetrahedrite and siderite, with small amounts of chalcopyrite, pyrite, and quartz. Biologically driven Cu and S extraction was signifi

Metal Recovery from Discarded Lithium-Ion Batteries by Bioleaching Coupled with Minimal Mechanical Pre-Treatment

Lidia Garcia, Joan Morell

The rising demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), driven by the growing consumption of electronic devices and the expansion of electric vehicles, is leading to a concerning depletion of primary metal resources and a significant accumulation of electronic waste. This urgent challenge highlights the need for sustainable recovery methods to extract valuable metals from spent LIBs, aligning with cir

Bioleaching of Gold in Mine Tailings by Alcaligenes faecalis

Yilman S. Pineda, Stephanie L. Devries

We conducted a series of column experiments on tailing heap samples from the Picacho mine in California to determine the ability of the native Gram-negative bacteria, Alcaligenes faecalis, to leach gold. To mimic heap leaching using our technique, unprocessed and unsorted tailings of mixed grain sizes were placed into columns and leached for three weeks with four treatments: (1) deionized water, (

2021 Chen Bioleaching metals from coal gangue

Zihao Chen, Xinying Huang

A mixed culture of A. ferrooxidans and A. thiooxidans isolated from a coal gangue dump was used to bioleach coal gangue in a column reactor to investigate the leaching of elements. The changes of metal ions (Fe, Mn and Cr) and sulfate in the leaching process were monitored to assess the efficiency of the bioleaching process. Experimental results revealed that the mixed culture significantly enhanc

2020 Rouchalova Bioleaching metals from mining sludge

Dana Rouchalova, Kamila Rouchalova

Globally, the amounts of metal ore deposits have been declining, so the research directions investigating the extraction of metals from materials that are classified as waste are gaining more importance every year. High concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Fe were analyzed in the sludge sediment (Zlaté Hory, Czech Republic), which is a waste product of the mining industry. In the bioleaching process,

The Confluence of Heavy Metal Biooxidation and Heavy Metal Resistance: Implications for Bioleaching by Extreme Thermoacidophiles

Garrett Wheaton, James Counts

Extreme thermoacidophiles (Topt > 65 °C, pHopt < 3.5) inhabit unique environments fraught with challenges, including extremely high temperatures, low pH, as well as high levels of soluble metal species. In fact, certain members of this group thrive by metabolizing heavy metals, creating a dynamic equilibrium between biooxidation to meet bioenergetic needs and mechanisms for tolerating and resistin

(Bio)leaching Behavior of Chromite Tailings

Viviana Bolaños-Benítez, Eric D. van Hullebusch

Chromite beneficiation operations in Sukinda valley (India) produce large amounts of tailings, which are stored in open air. In this study, bioleaching experiments were carried out in batch reactors with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans or Pseudomonas putida in order to determine the potential leachability of metals contained in these tailings due to biological activity. Acidic and alkaline pH result

Maximizing Economic Performance in the Mining Industry by Applying Bioleaching Technology for Extraction of Polymetallic Mineral Deposits

Daniel Kržanović, Vesna Conić

There are many sources to increase value in an integrated mining–metallurgy context. The optimal strategy for concentration of minerals from the ore is one of these sources. The elements of mining-metallurgy operations from resources, infrastructure, mining site, processing, and metallurgy are mutually dependent, and reinforce and interact positively with each other to generate a combined value gr

Effects of Solid Content and Substrate Concentration on Bioleaching of Heavy Metals from Sewage Sludge Using Aspergillus niger

Shen-Yi Chen, Sheng-Ying Wang

The presence of heavy metals in sewage sludge not only affects the performance of sludge anaerobic digestion process but also restricts the land application of treated sewage sludge. Therefore, a fungi-mediated bioleaching process for simultaneous metal leaching and sludge digestion by Aspergillus niger was developed to treat the sewage sludge containing heavy metals in this study. The effects of tw

Bioleaching of Phosphate Minerals Using Aspergillus niger: Recovery of Copper and Rare Earth Elements

Laura Castro, Maria Luisa Blázquez

Rare earth elements (REE) are essential in high-technology and environmental applications, where their importance and demand have grown enormously over the past decades. Many lanthanide and actinide minerals in nature are phosphates. Minerals like monazite occur in small concentrations in common rocks that resist weathering. Turquoise is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum scarcely studied

2020 Tong Effect of Graphite on Copper Bioleaching from Waste Printed Circuit Boards

Linlin Tong, Qianfei Zhao

The efficient extraction of copper as a valuable metal from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) is currently attracting growing interest. Here, we systematically investigated the impact of bacteria on the efficiency of copper leaching from WPCBs, and evaluated the effect of graphite on bioleaching performance. The HQ0211 bacteria culture containing Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Ferroplasma acid

2019 Kang Electrochemical Behavior of Ocean Polymetallic Nodules and Low Grade Nickel

Jin-Xing Kang, Ya-Li Feng

Efficient extraction of Ni, Co, Cu, and Mn from low-grade and refractory ores is a common technical challenge. The present study proposes an Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans-coupled leaching of Ni, Cu, Co, and Mn from oceanic polymetallic nodules and low-grade nickel sulfide ore, and focuses on the electrochemical behavior of the ores in simulated bio-leaching solutions. In the dissolution of polymet

2021 Jia Industrial Heap Bioleaching of Copper Sulfide Ore Started with Only Water

Yan Jia, Heyun Sun

Sulfuric acid solution containing ferric iron is the extractant for industrial heap bioleaching of copper sulfides. To start a heap bioleaching plant, sulfuric acid is usually added to the irrigation solution to maintain adequate acidity (pH 1.0–2.0) for copper dissolution. An industrial practice of heap bioleaching of secondary copper sulfide ore that began with only water irrigation without the ad

2020 Kinnunen Efficiency of Chemical and Biological Leaching of Copper Slag for the Recovery of

Päivi Kinnunen, Jarno Mäkinen

Copper slags produced in vast quantities in smelting operations could be considered as secondary material sources instead of stockpiling them in landfills. This study investigates the recovery of valuable metals from copper slag and the valorisation of the leach residue as construction material in line with the principles of a circular economy. By taking into account that the environmental charact

Bioleaching of GaAs metal hydroxide sludge: a biohydrometallurgical alternative to conventional acid leaching

Mareike Thea Fritze, Frank Haubrich

The economically important metal gallium (Ga) is considered to be a critical raw material with a potentially high supply risk. The industrial semiconductor production process generates multiple waste streams that contain Ga in economically significant amounts. This study explores bioleaching for Ga recycling from a waste metal hydroxide sludge originating from industrial GaAs-wafer production. Pre

Low-Temperature CO2-Enhanced Reductive Bioleaching for Selective Nickel Recovery from Iron-Rich Silicate Tailings, with Concurrent Carbon Sequestration

Kwabena Boafo, Palas Kamlakar Borkar

Recovering nickel from iron-rich mine tailings by bioleaching is held back by the co-dissolution of iron, which gives pregnant leach solutions with high Fe/Ni mass ratios and heavy downstream purification costs. This study shows that running bioleaching at 0 °C under a CO2-enriched atmosphere, with no post-leach iron removal step, lowers the Fe/Ni mass ratio in the leachate from 13.87 at 25 °C to

Phages released from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans enhance chalcopyrite bioleaching by alleviating passivation and promoting sulfur turnover

Zhaoyue Yang, Zhenghua Liu

Chalcopyrite is the most abundant copper-bearing sulfide mineral, characterized by a stable crystal structure. Bioleaching of chalcopyrite is inherently slow and further constrained by surface passivation layers during prolonged bioleaching. In this study, bacteriophages released from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were introduced to promote chalcopyrite bioleaching. Mineralogical characterization

Towards Sustainable Bioleaching of Platinum Group Metals from Spent Automotive Catalysts

Yeskalina Kuralay, Zahra Ilkhani

Spent automotive catalysts represent an important secondary resource for platinum group metals, offering environmental and economic advantages over primary mining. This review evaluates bioleaching-based recovery strategies of these metals as sustainable alternatives to conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processing. The cyanogenic bioleaching using Chromobacterium violaceum, Pse

Indirect bioleaching for metal recovery from battery black mass using microbially generated acid from a secondary sulfur resource

Lalropuia Lalropuia, Karri Meriläinen

Recycling critical metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIB) has attracted significant attention in recent years, driving the search for more sustainable and environmentally friendly recovery methods. Among emerging approaches, indirect bioleaching may be a very promising alternative for recovering valuable metals from spent LIB. In this study, sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was produced by using a mix

Fluoride toxicity and mitigation strategies in acidophilic bioleaching microorganisms

Mareike Thea Fritze, Sabrina Hedrich

Bioleaching is an established process for sulfidic ores and is increasingly applied to the recycling of industrial residues. However, unlike ores, many residues like sludge contain inhibitory elements, among which fluoride poses a major challenge due to its toxicity toward acidophilic microorganisms even at low concentrations. This study systematically investigated fluoride tolerance in pure and m

2026 Shi Direct bioleaching of rare earths from coal fly ash

Shulan Shi, Ting Chen

Coal fly ash contains valuable rare earth elements (REEs), making its comprehensive utilization highly significant. In this study, REEs were recovered from two typical types of coal fly ash by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, and the influencing factors and leaching mechanisms were explored. The results showed that favorable pulp density for bioleaching was 2% and the bacterial inoculum size was 5%

Continuous bio-hydrometallurgical extraction of zinc from a bulk lead-zinc flotation concentrate on a pilot scale

Mosayeb Ahmadi, Mohammad Raouf Hosseini

The high interlock between the fine particles of sphalerite and galena in some parts of the Goushfil mine (Isfahan, Iran) ore has significantly reduced the flotation efficiency. According to the acceptable capability of bioleaching in the recovery of metals from the complex mineralogical resources, the feasibility of zinc extraction from a low-grade (34% Zn) bulk flotation concentrate was investig

DIRECT BIOLEACHING OF ZINC USING manihot

Ajibola, O. O., Adebayo, A. O.

The advent and development of new technologies that will provide better yields, cleaner, and a safer environment is a global challenge for researchers. Traditional solvents used in the extraction of minerals are often hazardous, posing ecological threats. This study reports the direct bioleaching of zinc sourced from the Abakaliki-Ishiagwu complex zinc sulphide ore deposit, which predominantly con

2019 Ghadiri Micro CT investigation of heap bioleaching variables

Mahdi Ghadiri

Heap bioleaching is a hydrometallurgical technology used to facilitate the extraction of valuable metals such as copper, gold, nickel, and uranium from low-grade, typically sulphidic, ores. This process is highly complex and is influenced by interactions of various sub-processes, including the flow of leaching solution around ore particles, mass and heat transfer within and around the particles, c

Investigating variables affecting heap (bio)leaching through determining access to sub-surface mineral grains by micro-scale X-ray tomography

Mahdi Ghadiri

Heap bioleaching is a hydrometallurgical technology used to facilitate the extraction of valuable metals such as copper, gold, nickel, and uranium from low-grade, typically sulphidic, ores. This process is highly complex due to the interactions of various sub-processes, including the flow of leaching solution around ore particles, mass and heat transfer, chemical reactions, and microbially-mediate

Unveiling the Bioleaching Versatility of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Luca Tonietti, Mattia Esposito

This study explores the bioleaching capabilities of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, a bacterium known for its role in biohydrometallurgy. The objective was to investigate its versatility in metal recovery from various substrates. Utilizing a series of experimental setups, isolated strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were subjected to different environmental conditions to assess their efficie

Advances in bioleaching of waste lithium batteries under metal ion stress

Xu Zhang, Hongjie Shi

In modern societies, the accumulation of vast amounts of waste Li-ion batteries (WLIBs) is a grave concern. Bioleaching has great potential for the economic recovery of valuable metals from various electronic wastes and has been successfully applied in mining on commercial scales. This review summarizes the advances in bioleaching of WLIBs, focusing on the effects of high concentrations of heavy m

Biosorption and Bioleaching of Heavy Metals from Electronic Waste Varied with Microbial Genera

Preetiman Kaur, Shivani Sharma

Industrialization and technological advancements have led to the exploitation of natural resources and the production of hazardous wastes, including electronic waste (E-waste). The traditional physical and chemical techniques used to combat E-waste accumulation have inherent drawbacks, such as the production of harmful gases and toxic by-products. These limitations may be prudently addressed by em