German researchers use microorganisms and microalgae to recover metals from e-waste
In Germany, microorganisms and microalgae can be used to recover valuable metals from electronic waste – in an environmentally friendly, selective manner with potential for industrial application. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB demonstrated this in a study.
At the heart of the process is a technique known as bioleaching: microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa are applied to shredded electronic waste. They produce acids and other compounds that selectively extract metals from the material. The resulting metal-containing solution is then treated using microalgae – the algae absorb the metal ions through biosorption, acting like biological sponges.
Furthermore, these processes were tested on a larger scale in a fixed-bed reactor. Despite technical challenges such as biofilm formation and uneven flow, palladium was successfully mobilized – an important step toward industrial scalability.
Category: Research
