Microbial Processing of Waste Shredded PCBs for Copper Extraction Cum Separation—Comparing the Efficacy of Bacterial and Fungal Leaching Kinetics and Yields

The recycling of electronic scrap is an important subject not only from environmental aspect but also for recovering metal resources such as copper. In this work, the microbial extraction copper and other metals (Cu, Ni, Co, Fe Al) present in depopulated shredded printed circuit board (PCB) elaborated. Bacterial strains A. ferrooxidans, thiooxidans a fungal strain, niger are used along with PCBs. An optimum recovery 93% Cu was obtained at 308 K, pH 2 using 8% pulp density 10 days by mixed culture ferrooxidans thiooxidans. Whereas niger, 66% reported similar experimental conditions. results show higher potential ability bacteria compared to fungus bioleach Additionally, kinetics mechanism bioleaching e-waste chemolithotrophs heterotrophs were evaluated. leach liquor optimized leaching process subjected separation purification >99% pure sulfate Acorga M5640 solvent extraction.