Bioleaching of metals from various waste resources

The accumulation of waste from different sources such as industries, mine tailing, electronic waste, and sewage sludge is a serious environmental challenge. Since waste from the sources mentioned above contains a range of metals, research has been carried out to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for recovering heavy metals (e.g., Fe, Co, Li, and P). Compared to the traditional method, bioleaching is considered a more sustainable method for metal recovery, but its efficiency must be improved for widespread practical applications. This chapter critically evaluates the current status of the bioleaching process for heavy metal recovery by summarizing the bioleaching process’s historical perspective, principles, and associated mechanisms. The overview of the existing literature indicates that the bioleaching process is influenced by microbial species and environmental factors (e.g., pH, redox potential, and temperature). In addition, this chapter discusses metal recovery versus different sources and bioleaching reactor design at the laboratory and industrial scale. The economics and sustainability of the bioleaching process are reviewed, and future research needs are outlined.