An overview on environmental pollution caused by heavy metals released from e-waste and their bioleaching
Deepak Pant, Varun Dhiman
Abstract
The consistently expanding quantum of e-waste is booming at an extremely high pace which is around 20-25 Mt for every year. The metal recovery from e-waste is a developing zone of scientific enthusiasm because of quality of wide scope of valuable metals present in it. Bioleaching can improve and recover the heterogenic metals present in electronic waste in a proficient way, thereby helps in its effective management. The microbial strains involved in metals bioleaching mobilize the metals under the influence of cyanide and acidic medium. Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thermoplasma acidophilum, Chromobacterium violaceum, Acidithiobacillus and Aspergillus niger are the major microbial strains engaged with metals bioleaching. This chapter emphasized on the types of microorganisms and their performance in metal bioleaching and inspects the bioleaching of gold, iron and copper from e-waste scrap. Additionally, the key environmental and health concerns associated with e-waste exposure are also discussed. Therefore, this chapter provides comprehensive information on eco-friendly and efficient bioleaching of heavy metals from environment.