Work

Insights into the continuous staggered bioleaching of pure copper from waste printed circuit boards

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Recycling precious metals from electronic waste by bioleaching stands out as a sustainable technology for metal solubilisation using microorganisms . In this study, the recovery of pure copper from waste printed circuit boards was performed through an indirect approach by sequential bioleaching and electrowinning . The bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was cultivated in a stirred tank reactor for the continuous production of ferric iron (Fe 3+ ) as the primary leaching agent for batch leaching at pulp densities and temperature up to 8 % w/v and 40 °C, respectively. A leaching rate of 50 % copper was achieved at a pulp density of 6 % w/v, 40 °C and 96 h spent time. The finding was used as a reference for flow leaching operations in a continuous stirred tank reactor and rates of 100 % and 80 % of copper were leached with and without pH control, respectively, at 40 °C, and a hydraulic residence time of 96 h. A rate of 70.85 % of pure copper was then recovered from the metal rich solution by electrowinning using a current density of 0.0168 A/cm 2 over 8 h. These results provide valuable insights into the continuous recovery of copper from electronic wastes and contribute to the ongoing strategies of design and scale-up toward industrially viable operations.

Source: Journal of Environmental Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125522

Authors: Zahra Ilkhani, Joshua Redman, Evie Stokes, Ken Parker, Farid Aiouache

Institution: Lancaster University

Language: English

Topic: Recycling and Waste Management Techniques

Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750