Biotechnological Recovery of Valuable Metals from Lignite Ash

Abstract:

Ashes from lignite combustion for power generation contain considerable amounts of strategic metals, metalloids and rare earth elements. Within the presented project bioleaching with different types of microorganisms was investigated to recover valuable metals from lignite ashes. An increased mobilization of several metals ions was observed with the gluconic acid-producing bacterium Acetobacter methanolicus and the silicate-solubilizing bacterium Bacillus circulans. Most promising results were achieved with sulfuric acid-producing microorganisms and bioleaching could even be increased at higher temperatures or by reductive bioleaching using acidophilic, iron-reducing bacteria.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1130)
• Pages: 664-667
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1130.664
• Online since: November 2015
• Authors: Sabrina Hedrich*, Sören Bellenberg, René Kermer, Tilman Gehrke, Wolfgang Sand, Axel Schippers, Susan Reichel, Franz Glombitza, Eberhard Janneck
• Keywords: Acidophiles, Bioleaching, Heterotrophs, Lignite Ash

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