Abstract
Challenges in the course of sustainable development, predominantly dearth of natural resources and waste management have suggested scientific community across the globe to seek novel processes to reduce ecological disturbances. For this purpose, microbial leaching process; a commercial application of bio-hydrometallurgy, could be a better option as it serves as a potential candidate for the retrieval of precious metals from low grade ores containing very low metal concentration, and sulfide minerals. It can also effectively remove excess of metals from soil and sediments and even recover metals from discarded solid waste. The present article intends to highlight the valuable metals which are being recovered by the process of microbial leaching from various kind of solid waste, the mechanism by which metals are mobilized, commercially used bioleaching processes along with their benefits and shortcomings, conditions and factors necessary for the optimization of the microbial leaching process. Emphasis is also being given to the extraction of metals from metal polluted soil and sediments using leaching organisms. It is to be concluded that microbial leaching is a revolutionizing technique bringing out both recovery of metals from solid materials including metal contaminated soil as well as remediation of soil using micro-organisms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alshehri ANZ (2018) Microbial recovery of gold metal from untreated and pretreated electronic wastes by wild and mutated cyanogenic Bacillus megaterium. Am J Microbiol Res 6:14–21. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajmr-6-1-3
Antoniadis V, Levizou E, Shaheen SM, Ok YS, Sebastian A, Baum C, Prasad MNV, Wenzel WW, Rinklebe J (2017) Trace elements in the soil-plant interface: phytoavailability, translocation, and phytoremediation—a review. Earth Sci Rev 171:621–645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.06.005
Arinanda M, Haute QV, Lambert F, Gaydardzhiev S (2019) Effects of operational parameters on the bio-assisted leaching of metals from pyrolized printed circuit boards. Miner Eng 134:16–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2019.01.021
Arshadi M, Mousavi SM (2015) Enhancement of simultaneous gold and copper extraction from computer printed circuit boards using Bacillus megaterium. Bioresour Technol 175:315–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.083
Arshadi M, Nili S, Yaghmaei S (2019) Ni and Cu recovery by bioleaching from the printed circuit boards of mobile phones in non-conventional medium. J Environ Manag 250:109502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109502
Auerbach R, Bokelmann K, Stauber R, Gutfleisch O, Schnell S, Ratering S (2019) Critical raw materials—advanced recycling technologies and processes: recycling of rare earth metals out of end of life magnets by bioleaching with various bacteria as an example of an intelligent recycling strategy. Miner Eng 134:104–117
Awasthi AK, Hasan M, Mishra YK, Pandey AK, Tiwary BN, Kuhad RC, Gupta VK, Thakur VK (2019) Environmentally sound system for E-waste: Biotechnological perspectives. Curr Res Biotechnol 1:58–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbiot.2019.10.002
Bahaloo-Horeh N, Mousavi SM, Baniasadi M (2018) Use of adapted metal tolerant Aspergillus niger to enhance bioleaching efficiency of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion mobile phone batteries. J Clean Prod 197:1546–1557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.299
Baniasadi M, Vakilchap F, Bahaloo-Horeh N, Mousavi SM, Farnaud S (2019) Advances in bioleaching as a sustainable method for metal recovery from e-waste: a review. J Ind Eng Chem 76:75–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2019.03.047
Biswal BK, Zhu W, Yang EH (2020) Investigation on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1-driven bioleaching behavior of heavy metals in a novel geopolymer synthesized from municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash. Constr Build Mater 241:118005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118005
Boxall NJ, Cheng KY, Bruckard W, Kaksonen AH (2018) Application of indirect non-contact bioleaching for extracting metals from waste lithium-ion batteries. J Hazard Mater 360:504–511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.08.024
Chauhan G, Jadhao PR, Pant KK, Nigam KDP (2018) Novel technologies and conventional processes for recovery of metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment: challenges & opportunities—a review. J Environ Chem Eng 6:1288–1304
Das S, Deshavath NV, Goud VV, Dasu V (2019) Bioleaching of Al from spent fluid catalytic cracking catalyst using Aspirgillus species. Biotechnol Rep 23:e00349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2019.e00349
Deng X (2013) Bioleaching mechanism of heavy metals in the mixture of contaminated soil and slag by using indigenous Penicillium chrysogenum strain F1. J Hazard Mater 248:107–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.12.051
Dixit R, Wasiullah MD, Pandiyan K, Singh UB, Sahu A, Shukla R, Singh BP, Rai JP, Sharma PK, Lade H, Paul D (2015) Bioremediation of heavy metals from soil and aquatic environment: an overview of principles and criteria of fundamental processes. Sustainability 7:2189–2212. https://doi.org/10.3390/su7022189
Esmailbagi MR, Schaffie M, Kamyabi A, Ranjbar M (2018) Microbial assisted galvanic leaching of chalcopyrite concentrate in continuously stirred bioreactors. Hydrometallurgy 180:139–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2018.07.020
Fan XL, Lv SQ, Xia JL, Nie ZY, Zhang DR, Pan X, Liu LZ, Wen W, Zheng L, Zhao YD (2019) Extraction of Al and Ce from coal fly ash by biogenic Fe3+ and H2SO4. Chem Eng J 370:1407–1424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.04.014
Faraji F, Golmohammadzadeh R, Rashchi F, Alimardani N (2018) Fungal bioleaching of WPCBs using Aspergillus niger: observation, optimization and kinetics. J Environ Manag 217:775–787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.04.043
Feng S, Yang H, Wang W (2016) Insights to the effects of free cells on community structure of attached cells and chalcopyrite bioleaching during different stages. Bioresour Technol 200:186–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.09.054
Ferrer A, Bunk B, Spröer C, Biedendieck R, Valdés N, Jahn M, Jahn D, Orellana O, Levicán G (2016) Complete genome sequence of the bioleaching bacterium Leptospirillum sp. group II strain CF-1. J Biotechnol 222:21–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.02.008
Fonti V, Dell’Anno A, Beolchini F (2013) Mutualistic interactions during bioleaching of marine contaminated sediment. Chem Eng Trans 32:979–984
Fonti V, Dell’Anno A, Beolchini F (2016) Does bioleaching represent a biotechnological strategy for remediation of contaminated sediments? Sci Total Environ 563:302–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.094
Funari V, Mäkinen J, Salminen J, Braga R, Dinelli E, Revitzer H (2017) Metal removal from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration fly ash: a comparison between chemical leaching and bioleaching. Waste Manag 60:397–406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.07.025
Gan M, Jie S, Li M, Zhu J, Liu X (2015) Bioleaching of multiple metals from contaminated sediment by moderate thermophiles. Mar Pollut Bull 97:47–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.06.040
Gangwar C, Choudhari R, Chauhan A, Kumar A, Singh A, Tripathi A (2019) Assessment of air pollution caused by illegal e-waste burning to evaluate the human health risk. Environ Int 125:191–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.051
Ghosh S, Mohanty S, Akcil A, Sukla LB, Das AP (2016) A greener approach for resource recycling: manganese bioleaching. Chemosphere 154:628–639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.04.028
Gilligan R, Nikoloski AN (2015) The extraction of uranium from brannerite—a literature review. Miner Eng 71:34–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2014.10.007
Gopikrishnan V, Vignesh A, Radhakrishnan M, Joseph J, Shanmugasundaram T, Doble M, Balagurunathan R (2020) Microbial leaching of heavy metals from e-waste: opportunities and challenges. In: Biovalorisation of wastes to renewable chemicals and biofuels. Elsevier, pp 189–216
Gu T, Rastegar SO, Mousavi SM, Li M, Zhou M (2018) Advances in bioleaching for recovery of metals and bioremediation of fuel ash and sewage sludge. Bioresour Technol 261:428–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.04.033
Gu W, Bai J, Dong B, Zhuang X, Zhao J, Zhang C, Wang J, Shih K (2017) Catalytic effect of graphene in bioleaching copper from waste printed circuit boards by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Hydrometallurgy 171:172–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2017.05.012
Guezennec AG, Joulian C, Delort C, Bodénan F, Hedrich S, Dhugues P (2018) CO2 mass transfer in bioleaching reactors: CO2 enrichment applied to a complex copper concentrate. Hydrometallurgy 180:277–286
Gupta P, Kumar V (2017) Value added phytoremediation of metal stressed soils using phosphate solubilizing microbial consortium. World J Microbiol Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-016-2176-3
Han Y, Tang Z, Sun J, Xing X, Zhang M, Cheng J (2019) Heavy metals in soil contaminated through e-waste processing activities in a recycling area: Implications for risk management. Process Saf Environ Prot 125:189–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2019.03.020
Heydarian A, Mousavi SM, Vakilchap F, Baniasadi M (2018) Application of a mixed culture of adapted acidophilic bacteria in two-step bioleaching of spent lithium-ion laptop batteries. J Power Sources 378:19–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.12.009
Hong Y, Valix M (2014) Bioleaching of electronic waste using acidophilic sulfur oxidising bacteria. J Clean Prod 65:465–472
Horeh NB, Mousavi SM, Shojaosadati SA (2016) Bioleaching of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion mobile phone batteries using Aspergillus niger. J Power Sources 320:257–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.04.104
Ilyas S, Ruan C, Bhatti HN, Ghauri MA, Anwar MA (2010) Column bioleaching of metals from electronic scrap. Hydrometallurgy 101:135–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2009.12.007
Jalali F, Fakhari J, Zolfaghari A (2019) Response surface modeling for lab-scale column bioleaching of low-grade uranium ore using a new isolated strain of Acidithiobacillus Ferridurans. Hydrometallurgy 185:194–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2019.02.014
Jin H, Reed DW, Thompson VS, Fujita Y, Jiao Y, Crain-Zamora M, Fisher J, Scalzone K, Griffel M, Hartley D, Sutherland JW (2019) Sustainable bioleaching of rare earth elements from industrial waste materials using agricultural wastes. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 7(18):15311–15319. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b02584
Kader M, Lamb DT, Megharaj M, Naidu R (2016) Sorption parameters as a predictor of arsenic phytotoxicity in Australian soils. Geoderma 265:103–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.11.019
Kaksonen AH, Boxall NJ, Gumulya Y, Khaleque HN, Morris C, Bohu T, Cheng KY, Usher KM, Lakaniemi AM (2018) Recent progress in biohydrometallurgy and microbial characterisation. Hydrometallurgy 180:7–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2018.06.018
Kaksonen AH, Lakaniemi AM, Tuovinen OH (2020) Acid and ferric sulfate bioleaching of uranium ores: a review. J Clean Prod. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121586
Khatri BR, Sodha AB, Shah MB, Tipre DR, Dave SR (2018) Chemical and microbial leaching of base metals from obsolete cell-phone printed circuit boards. Sustain Environ Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.serj.2018.10.002
Kim MJ, Seo JY, Choi YS, Kim GH (2016) Bioleaching of spent Zn–Mn or Ni–Cd batteries by Aspergillus species. Waste Manag 51:168–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2015.11.001
Kutschke S, Guezennec AG, Hedrich S, Schippers A, Borg G, Kamradt A, Gouin J, Giebner F, Schopf S, Schlömann M, Rahfeld A (2015) Bioleaching of Kupferschiefer blackshale—a review including perspectives of the Ecometals project. Miner Eng 75:116–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2014.09.015
Laurent G, Izart C, Lechenard B, Golfier F, Marion P, Collon P, Truche L, Royer JJ, Filippov L (2019) Numerical modelling of column experiments to investigate in-situ bioleaching as an alternative mining technology. Hydrometallurgy 188:272–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2019.07.002
Lee JC, Pandey BD (2012) Bio-processing of solid wastes and secondary resources for metal extraction: a review. Waste Manag 32:3–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2011.08.010
Lei Y, Zhang G, Ai C, Zhuang S (2016) Bioleaching of sphalerite by the native mesophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria from a lead-zinc tailing. Procedia Environ Sci 31:554–559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2016.02.085
Li J, Wen J, Guo Y, An N, Liang C, Ge Z (2020) Bioleaching of gold from waste printed circuit boards by alkali-tolerant Pseudomonas fluorescens. Hydrometallurgy 194:105260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2020.105260
Li D, Li R, Ding Z, Ruan X, Luo J, Chen J, Zheng J, Tang J (2020) Discovery of a novel native bacterium of Providencia sp. with high biosorption and oxidation ability of manganese for bioleaching of heavy metal contaminated soils. Chemosphere 241:125039
Liu R, Chen J, Zhou W, Cheng H, Zhou H (2019) Insight to the early-stage adsorption mechanism of moderately thermophilic consortia and intensified bioleaching of chalcopyrite. Biochem Eng J 144:40–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2019.01.009
Lorenzo-Tallafigo J, Iglesias-Gonzalez N, Romero R, Mazuelos A, Carranza F (2018) Ferric leaching of the sphalerite contained in a bulk concentrate: kinetic study. Miner Eng 125:50–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.05.026
Ma L, Wang H, Wu J, Wang Y, Zhang D, Liu X (2019) Metatranscriptomics reveals microbial adaptation and resistance to extreme environment coupling with bioleaching performance. Bioresour Technol 280:9–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.117
Mahmoud A, Cézac P, Hoadley AF, Contamine F, d’Hugues P (2017) A review of sulfide minerals microbially assisted leaching in stirred tank reactors. Int Biodeter Biodegr 119:118–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2016.09.015
Mouna HM, Baral SS (2019) A bio-hydrometallurgical approach towards leaching of lanthanum from the spent fluid catalytic cracking catalyst using Aspergillus niger. Hydrometallurgy 184:175–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2019.01.007
Mu Y, Peng Y (2019) The effect of saline water on copper activation of pyrite in chalcopyrite flotation. Miner Eng 131:336–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.11.032
Mubarok MZ, Kusuma H, Minwal WP, Chaerun SK (2013) Effects of several parameters on nickel extraction from laterite ore by direct bioelaching using aspergillus niger and acid rock drainage from coal mine as an organic substrate. Adv Mater Res 825:356–359. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.825.356
Nakasaki K, Hirai H (2017) Temperature control strategy to enhance the activity of yeast inoculated into compost raw material for accelerated composting. Waste Manag 65:29–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2017.04.019
Nasab MH, Noaparast M, Abdollahi H, Amoozegar MA (2020) Indirect bioleaching of Co and Ni from iron rich laterite ore, using metabolic carboxylic acids generated by P. putida, P. koreensis, P. bilaji and A. niger. Hydrometallurgy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2020.105309
Naseri T, Bahaloo-Horeh N, Mousavi SM (2019) Environmentally friendly recovery of valuable metals from spent coin cells through two-step bioleaching using Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. J Environ Manag 235:357–367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.01.086
Natarajan G, Ting YP (2014) Pretreatment of e-waste and mutation of alkali-tolerant cyanogenic bacteria promote gold biorecovery. Bioresour Technol 152:80–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.10.108
Ngoma E, Borja D, Smart M, Shaik K, Kim H, Petersen J, Harrison ST (2018) Bioleaching of arsenopyrite from Janggun mine tailings (South Korea) using an adapted mixed mesophilic culture. Hydrometallurgy 181:21–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2018.08.010
Panda S, Akcil A, Pradhan N, Deveci H (2015) Current scenario of chalcopyrite bioleaching: a review on the recent advances to its heap-leach technology. Bioresour Technol 196:694–706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.08.064
Pant D, Joshi D, Upreti MK, Kotnala RK (2012) Chemical and biological extraction of metals present in E waste: a hybrid technology. Waste Manag 32:979–990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2011.12.002
Pathak A, Morrison L, Gerard Healy M (2017) Catalytic potential of selected metal ions for bioleaching, and potential techno-economic and environmental issues: a critical review. Bioresour Technol 229:211–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.01.001
Pathak A, Srichandan H, Kim DJ (2019) Column bioleaching of metals from refinery spent catalyst by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans: effect of operational modifications on metal extraction, metal precipitation, and bacterial attachment. J Environ Manag 242:372–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.04.081
Porvali A, Aaltonen M, Ojanen S, Velazquez-Martinez O, Eronen E, Liu F, Wilson BP, Serna-Guerrero R, Lundström M (2019) Mechanical and hydrometallurgical processes in HCl media for the recycling of valuable metals from Li-ion battery waste. Resour Conserv Recycl 142:257–266
Potysz A, van Hullebusch ED, Kierczak J (2018) Perspectives regarding the use of metallurgical slags as secondary metal resources—a review of bioleaching approaches. J Environ Manag 219:138–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.04.083
Quatrini R, Johnson DB (2018) Microbiomes in extremely acidic environments: functionalities and interactions that allow survival and growth of prokaryotes at low pH. Curr Opin Microbiol 43:139–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2018.01.011
Roshani M, Shojaosadati SA, Safdari SJ, Vasheghani-Farahani E, Mirjalili K, Manafi Z (2017) Bioleaching of molybdenum by two new thermophilic strains isolated and characterized. Iran J Chem Chem Eng 36:183–194
Roy S, Roy M (2015) Bioleaching of heavy metals by sulfur oxidizing bacteria: a review. Int Res J Environ Sci 4:75–79
Schippers A, Hedrich S, Vasters J, Drobe M, Sand W, Willscher S (2014) Biomining: metal recovery from ores with microorganisms. In: Schippers A, Glombitza F, Sand W (eds) Geobiotechnology. I Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–47
Schippers A, Tanne C, Stummeyer J, Graupner T (2019) Sphalerite bioleaching comparison in shake flasks and percolators. Miner Eng 132:251–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.12.007
Sen SK, Das MM, Bandyopadhyay P, Dash RR, Raut S (2016) Green process using hot spring bacterium to concentrate alumina in coal fly ash. Ecol Eng 88:10–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.12.012
Shabani MA, Irannajad M, Meshkini M, Azadmehr AR (2019) Investigations on bioleaching of copper and zinc oxide ores. T Indian I Metals 72:609–611. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-018-1509-3
Shah SS, Palmieri MC, Sponchiado SRP, Bevilaqua D (2020) Environmentally sustainable and cost-effective bioleaching of aluminum from low-grade bauxite ore using marine-derived Aspergillus niger. Hydrometallurgy 195:105368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2020.105368
Shah V, Daverey A (2020) Phytoremediation: a multidisciplinary approach to clean up heavy metal contaminated soil. Environ Technol Innov. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2020.100774
Srichandan H, Mohapatra RK, Parhi PK, Mishra S (2019) Bioleaching approach for extraction of metal values from secondary solid wastes: a critical review. Hydrometallurgy 189:105122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2019.105122
Urík M, Polák F, Bujdoš M, Pifková I, Kořenková L, Littera P, Matúš P (2018) Aluminium leaching by heterotrophic microorganism Aspergillus niger: an acidic leaching? Arab J Sci Eng 43:2369–2374. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-017-2784-8
Vakilchap F, Mousavi SM, Shojaosadati SA (2016) Role of Aspergillus niger in recovery enhancement of valuable metals from produced red mud in Bayer process. Bioresour Technol 218:991–998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.07.059
Vázquez-Campos X, Kinsela AS, Collins RN, Neilan BA, Waite TD (2017) Uranium extraction from a low-grade, stockpiled, non-sulfidic ore: Impact of added iron and the native microbial consortia. Hydrometallurgy 167:81–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2016.11.002
Vera M, Schippers A, Sand W (2013) Progress in bioleaching: fundamentals and mechanisms of bacterial metal sulfide oxidation—part A. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97:7529–7541. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-4954-2
Vyas S, Ting YP (2020) Microbial leaching of heavy metals using Escherichia coli and evaluation of bioleaching mechanism. Bioresour Technol Rep 9:100368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2019.100368
Wang J, Tian B, Bao Y, Qian C, Yang Y, Niu T, Xin B (2018) Functional exploration of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the bioleaching of obsolete electric vehicle LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 Li-ion batteries. J Hazard Mater 354:250–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.05.009
Wang RH, Zhu XF, Qian W, Zhao MH, Xu RK, Yu YC (2016) Adsorption of cd(II) by two variable-charge soils in the presence of pectin. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:12976–12982. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6465-z
Wang X, Ma L, Wu J, Xiao Y, Tao J, Liu X (2020) Effective bioleaching of low-grade copper ores: insights from microbial cross experiments. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123273
Wang Y, Chen X, Zhou H (2018) Disentangling effects of temperature on microbial community and copper extraction in column bioleaching of low grade copper sulfide. Bioresour Technol 268:480–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.08.031
Willner J, Fornalczyk A (2013) Extraction of metals from electronic waste by bacterial leaching. Environ Prot Eng 39:197–208
Xia M, Bao P, Liu A, Wang M, Shen L, Yu R, Liu Y, Chen M, Li J, Wu X, Qiu G (2018) Bioleaching of low-grade waste printed circuit boards by mixed fungal culture and its community structure analysis. Resour Conserv Recyc 136:267–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.05.001
Xinhui D, Runhua C, Yan S, Shengnan Z (2018) Preliminary bioleaching of heavy metals from contaminated soil applying Aspergillus niger F2. Am J Environ Sci Eng 2:72–78. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20180204.14
Yang L, Zhao D, Yang J, Wang W, Chen P, Zhang S, Yan L (2019) Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and its potential application. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 103:7819–7833. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-019-10098-5
Yang Z, Zhang Z, Chai L, Wang Y, Liu Y, Xiao R (2016) Bioleaching remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils using Burkholderia sp. Z-90. J Hazard Mater 301:145–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.08.047
Yin S, Chen W, Chen X, Wang L (2019) Bacterial-mediated recovery of copper from low-grade copper sulphide using acid-processed rice straw. Bioresour Technol 288:121605
Zeng G, Luo S, Deng X, Li L, Au C (2013) Influence of silver ions on bioleaching of cobalt from spent lithium batteries. Miner Eng 49:40–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2013.04.021
Zhang L, Xu Z (2019) Towards minimization of secondary wastes: element recycling to achieve future complete resource recycling of electronic wastes. Waste Manag 96:175–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.07.026
Zhang L, Zhou W, Liu Y, Jia H, Zhou J, Wei P, Zhou H (2020) Bioleaching of dewatered electroplating sludge for the extraction of base metals using an adapted microbial consortium: Process optimization and kinetics. Hydrometallurgy 191:105227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2019.105227
Zhang X, Niu J, Liang Y, Liu X, Yin H (2016) Metagenome-scale analysis yields insights into the structure and function of microbial communities in a copper bioleaching heap. BMC Genomics 15:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-016-0330-4
Zhou W, Wu J, Zeng W, Wang Y, Guo N, Zhang L, Wan L, Zhou H (2019) Optimization of mixed cultivation of the moderate thermophilic bioleaching microorganisms for high cell density using statistical methodology. Geomicrobiol J. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2018.1536176
Zhu JY, Zhang JX, Qian LI, Tao HAN, Hu YH, Liu XD, Qin WQ, Chai LY, Qiu GZ (2014) Bioleaching of heavy metals from contaminated alkaline sediment by auto-and heterotrophic bacteria in stirred tank reactor. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China 24:2969–2975. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(14)63433-6
Funding
Not applicable.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kour, G., Kothari, R., Mohan Singh, H. et al. Microbial leaching for valuable metals harvesting: versatility for the bioeconomy. Environmental Sustainability 4, 215–229 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-020-00143-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-020-00143-9