RT Journal Article
T1 Bioleaching of metals from secondary materials using glycolipid biosurfactants
A1 Castelein, Martijn
A1 Verbruggen, Florian
A1 Van Renterghem, Lisa
A1 Spooren, Jeroen
A1 Yurramendi, Lourdes
A1 Du Laing, Gijs
A1 Boon, Nico
A1 Soetaert, Wim
A1 Hennebel, Tom
A1 Roelants, Sophie
A1 Williamson, Adam J.
AB With the global demand for economically important metals increasing, compounded by the depletion of readily accessible ores, secondary resources and low-grade ores are being targeted to meet growing demands. Novel technologies developed within biobased industries, such as microbial biosurfactants, could be implemented to improve the sustainability of traditional hydrometallurgy techniques. This study investigates newly developed microbial biosurfactants (acidic- and bolaform glycolipids) for the leaching of metals (particularly Cu and Zn) from a suite of mine tailings, metallurgical sludges and automotive shredder residues. Generally, acidic sophorolipids were the most performant, and optimal Cu leaching was observed from a fayalite slag (27%) and a copper sulfide mine tailing (53%). Further investigation of the leached fayalite material showed that leaching was occurring from small metallic Cu droplets in this material via a corrosion-based mechanism, and/or from Cu-Pb sulfides, selective against dominant Fe-silicate matrices. This study highlights that acidic sophorolipid microbial biosurfactants have the potential to leach Cu and Zn from low-grade secondary materials. It also provides important fundamental insights into biosurfactant-metal and mineral interactions that are currently unexplored. Together, the convergence of leaching and mining industries with bio-industries can improve material recovery and will positively impact the bio- and circular economies and the environment.
SN 0892-6875
YR 2021
FD 2021-03-15
LA eng
NO Castelein , M , Verbruggen , F , Van Renterghem , L , Spooren , J , Yurramendi , L , Du Laing , G , Boon , N , Soetaert , W , Hennebel , T , Roelants , S & Williamson , A J 2021 , ' Bioleaching of metals from secondary materials using glycolipid biosurfactants ' , Minerals Engineering , vol. 163 , 106665 , pp. 106665 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106665
NO Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Authors
DS TECNALIA Publications
RD 29 sept 2024