Bioleaching and Biotechnological Approaches for Extracting Precious Metals from Electronic Waste

Abstract

The rapid growth of electronic waste (e-waste) has become a serious environmental and economic concern due to the presence of dangerous compounds and valuable precious metals. Traditional methods of metal recovery, such as pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy, typically involve environmental problems and are energy-intensive. Bioleaching, a biotechnological process utilizing microorganisms to extract metals, offers a sustainable option. This study analyzes the efficacy of bioleaching in recovering valuable metals from e-waste, focusing on improving microbial consortia and operational parameters. Results reveal that specialized microbial consortia can achieve high recovery rates for metals including gold, silver, and palladium under regulated settings. The findings underline the promise of bioleaching as an eco-friendly and effective technique for e-waste recycling.