Characteristics of Bioleaching Copper Remainders of Waste Printed Circuit Boards

Abstract:

Printed circuit boards are part of computer and their compositions are quite varied, containing polymers, ceramics and metals. Bioleaching copper from the printed circuit boards (PCB) by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. f.) had been proved to be feasible in our recent work. The characteristics of the remainders of copper were carefully observed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). It is found that the leaching pits were common on the surface of the leached copper and some crystal substances were also found on the surface. The EDS analysis was used to determine the elements of different area. The leaching pits area was consisted of copper and the crystal area was consisted of copper and oxygen. The surface shape of bioleached copper was compared with acid leaching copper and Fe3+ leaching copper. Different leaching method can get different morphology due to the different leaching mechanisms. The results can help us to understand the mechanism of the copper bioleaching by microorganism.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 955-959)
• Pages: 2649-2652
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.955-959.2649
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Zheng Xu*, Tao Yang, Li Mei Yang, Yi Han Na Hu
• Keywords: Bioleaching, Copper, Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

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