The use of pyrite as a source of lixiviant in the bioleaching of electronic waste
Electronic waste (e-waste) contains a wide range of elements, many of which are highly toxic to environmental and human health. On the other hand e-waste represents a significant potential source of valuable metals. This study used microbial oxidation of pyrite to generate a biolixiviant. Its effici...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2015
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12046 |
| _version_ | 1848747969297252352 |
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| author | Bryan, Christopher Watkin, Elizabeth McCredden, Timothy Wong, Zachary Harrison, S. Kaksonen, A. |
| author_facet | Bryan, Christopher Watkin, Elizabeth McCredden, Timothy Wong, Zachary Harrison, S. Kaksonen, A. |
| author_sort | Bryan, Christopher |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Electronic waste (e-waste) contains a wide range of elements, many of which are highly toxic to environmental and human health. On the other hand e-waste represents a significant potential source of valuable metals. This study used microbial oxidation of pyrite to generate a biolixiviant. Its efficiency in the dissolution of metals from printed circuit boards (PCBs) was evaluated as well as the effects of metals and PCB concentrations on microbial activity. The addition of elemental metals (Cu, Cr, Ni, Sn, Zn) had an immediate inhibitory effect on pyrite oxidation, though leaching recovered after a period of adaptation. Bioleaching was inhibited initially by the addition of 1 % (w/v) ground PCB, but recovered rapidly, whereas pulp densities of =5 % had sustained negative impacts on culture activity and viability. The loss of culture viability meant that only abiotic copper dissolution occurred at=5 % PCB. Final copper recoveries declinedwith increasing PCB pulp density. The relatively high content of elemental iron caused a lag period in copper solubilisation possibly due to displacement reactions. Leptospirillum ferriphilum was primarily responsible for pyrite oxidation, and most affected by both the pure metals (particularly Ni and Cu) and PCB. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:57:35Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-12046 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:57:35Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-120462018-03-29T09:06:08Z The use of pyrite as a source of lixiviant in the bioleaching of electronic waste Bryan, Christopher Watkin, Elizabeth McCredden, Timothy Wong, Zachary Harrison, S. Kaksonen, A. Bioleaching E-waste Pyrite PCB Electronic waste (e-waste) contains a wide range of elements, many of which are highly toxic to environmental and human health. On the other hand e-waste represents a significant potential source of valuable metals. This study used microbial oxidation of pyrite to generate a biolixiviant. Its efficiency in the dissolution of metals from printed circuit boards (PCBs) was evaluated as well as the effects of metals and PCB concentrations on microbial activity. The addition of elemental metals (Cu, Cr, Ni, Sn, Zn) had an immediate inhibitory effect on pyrite oxidation, though leaching recovered after a period of adaptation. Bioleaching was inhibited initially by the addition of 1 % (w/v) ground PCB, but recovered rapidly, whereas pulp densities of =5 % had sustained negative impacts on culture activity and viability. The loss of culture viability meant that only abiotic copper dissolution occurred at=5 % PCB. Final copper recoveries declinedwith increasing PCB pulp density. The relatively high content of elemental iron caused a lag period in copper solubilisation possibly due to displacement reactions. Leptospirillum ferriphilum was primarily responsible for pyrite oxidation, and most affected by both the pure metals (particularly Ni and Cu) and PCB. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12046 10.1016/j.hydromet.2014.12.004 Elsevier restricted |
| spellingShingle | Bioleaching E-waste Pyrite PCB Bryan, Christopher Watkin, Elizabeth McCredden, Timothy Wong, Zachary Harrison, S. Kaksonen, A. The use of pyrite as a source of lixiviant in the bioleaching of electronic waste |
| title | The use of pyrite as a source of lixiviant in the bioleaching of electronic waste |
| title_full | The use of pyrite as a source of lixiviant in the bioleaching of electronic waste |
| title_fullStr | The use of pyrite as a source of lixiviant in the bioleaching of electronic waste |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of pyrite as a source of lixiviant in the bioleaching of electronic waste |
| title_short | The use of pyrite as a source of lixiviant in the bioleaching of electronic waste |
| title_sort | use of pyrite as a source of lixiviant in the bioleaching of electronic waste |
| topic | Bioleaching E-waste Pyrite PCB |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12046 |