Molding the future: optimization of bioleaching of rare earth elements from electronic waste by Penicillium expansum and insights into its mechanism
Article
Gonzalez Baez, A., Pantoja Munoz, L., Timmermans, M., Garelick, H. and Purchase, D. 2024. Molding the future: optimization of bioleaching of rare earth elements from electronic waste by Penicillium expansum and insights into its mechanism. Bioresource Technology. 402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130750
Type | Article |
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Title | Molding the future: optimization of bioleaching of rare earth elements from electronic waste by Penicillium expansum and insights into its mechanism |
Authors | Gonzalez Baez, A., Pantoja Munoz, L., Timmermans, M., Garelick, H. and Purchase, D. |
Abstract | The recovery of rare earth elements (REE) from electronic waste is crucial for ensuring future demand security, as there is a high supply risk for this group of elements, and mitigating the environmental impacts of conventional mining. This research focuses on extracting REE from waste printed circuit boards through bioleaching, addressing the limited attention given to this source. A strain of Penicillium expansum demonstrated efficient bioleaching under optimal conditions of 7.5 initial pH, 0.1 mM phosphate concentration, and excluding a buffering agent. The study achieved significant improvements in La and Tb extraction and enhancements in Pr, Nd, and Gd recovery, approaching 70 % within 24 h. Fungal mechanisms involved in REE extraction included fungal pH control, organic acid biosynthesis, phosphate bioavailability, and potential fungal proton pump involvement. This approach offers a promising solution for sustainable REE recovery from e-waste, contributing to resource security and circular economy. |
Keywords | Fungal bioleaching; Organic acids; Critical raw materials; Printed circuit boards; Metal recovery |
Sustainable Development Goals | 12 Responsible consumption and production |
Middlesex University Theme | Sustainability |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Journal | Bioresource Technology |
ISSN | 0960-8524 |
Electronic | 1873-2976 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 27 Apr 2024 |
Jun 2024 | |
Publication process dates | |
Submitted | 23 Feb 2024 |
Accepted | 26 Apr 2024 |
Deposited | 13 May 2024 |
Output status | Published |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Supplemental file | File Access Level Open |
Copyright Statement | © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130750 |
PubMed ID | 38685515 |
Web of Science identifier | WOS:001237466600001 |
Language | English |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/138624
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Publisher's version
1-s2.0-S096085242400453X-main.pdf | ||
License: CC BY 4.0 | ||
File access level: Open |
Supplemental file
Supplementary material.pdf | ||
File access level: Open |
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