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Application of microbial bioleaching for metal recovery from electronic waste

Publication at Faculty of Science |
2015

Abstract

The aim of the paper was to investigate the efficiency of fungal strains applied in leaching of economically interesting metals, aluminium and copper, from e-waste. Used e-waste was composed from pulverized old computer components, which were grinded under fraction 0.1 mm.

For leaching experiments, five different strains of microscopic filamentous fungi (three species of Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma virens and Penicillium simplicissimum) were used. Bioleaching was carried out as stationary systems at laboratory temperature for 28 days.

The highest mobilization of metals from e-waste by microscopic fungi was achieved as follows 62.36% Al and 36% Cu.