About this Research Topic
Bioleaching is an efficient technology for metal recovery applied in mining. This process enables the extraction of strategic metals from low-grade ores and attracts attention in mineral industries for applying sustainable methods towards the development of circular economy. Bioleaching can mobilize critical metals from ores but also from secondary sources such as e-wastes, spent catalysts, fly ash, red mud, scraps, etc. Acidophilic sulphur oxidizing and/or iron-oxidizing bacteria, such as Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, are the most extensively used microorganisms in the mining and metallurgical industries. Heterotrophic microorganisms, bacteria, and fungi, produce organic acids and other metabolites that confer leaching capabilities. In addition, cyanogenic microorganisms can generate a significant quantity of cyanide forming metal cyanide complexes with high water-solubility.
The mining sector is influenced by different challenges and driving factors and the biohydrometallurgy could be an alternative to the conventional extractive process, that should be substituted by environmentally friendly technologies and with a lower effect on climate change. There is a growing interest towards mine wastes as well as several post-consumer wastes to boost value recovery from waste, a more circular economy and industrial ecology focusing on strategic metals. Bioleaching is a potential alternative for conventional pyro- and hydrometallurgical processing allowing the metal extraction from residues under cheaper, less energy demanding and less polluting conditions.
This research topic aims to collect papers on recent advances on the bioleaching and biorecovery of critical raw materials from industrial wastes either solid or liquid. These include studies on bioleaching microorganisms relevant to the understanding of mechanisms for metal dissolution, chemical characterization of surface compounds for attachment and biofilm formation on waste surfaces as well as the characterization of the transformations and secondary phases. Biosorption, biosynthesis of nanoparticles and treatments of wastewaters for the recovery of critical metals are also welcome.
The mining sector is influenced by different challenges and driving factors and the biohydrometallurgy could be an alternative to the conventional extractive process, that should be substituted by environmentally friendly technologies and with a lower effect on climate change. There is a growing interest towards mine wastes as well as several post-consumer wastes to boost value recovery from waste, a more circular economy and industrial ecology focusing on strategic metals. Bioleaching is a potential alternative for conventional pyro- and hydrometallurgical processing allowing the metal extraction from residues under cheaper, less energy demanding and less polluting conditions.
This research topic aims to collect papers on recent advances on the bioleaching and biorecovery of critical raw materials from industrial wastes either solid or liquid. These include studies on bioleaching microorganisms relevant to the understanding of mechanisms for metal dissolution, chemical characterization of surface compounds for attachment and biofilm formation on waste surfaces as well as the characterization of the transformations and secondary phases. Biosorption, biosynthesis of nanoparticles and treatments of wastewaters for the recovery of critical metals are also welcome.
Keywords: bioleaching, biorecovery, critical raw materials, recycling, secondary sources, biosorption, industrial wastes
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