LEACHING OF COPPER FROM WASTE

PCBS USING ASPERGILLUS NIGER AND

ACIDOTHIOBACILLUS FEROOXIDANS

Presented By :
Rachna Sinha (01016100413)

University School of Chemical Technology

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi

Contents
Introduction
Treatment of e-Waste
Available methods for e-waste management and
metal recovery
Choosing Biological Processes
Literature Review
Objective
Preparation of PCB
Segregation of PCB
SEM Results
Process Flow Chart
References

INTRODUCTION
outdated electronics
E-Waste

the electronics that have reached the end

of their effective lifespan

broken in someway

Metals
Pollutants
Printed Circuit Board
CRT and LCD screens
Cables
Metal Plastic mixtures
Plastics
Others

AVAILABLE METHODS FOR ETreatment

of
e-Waste
WASTE MANAGEMENT AND
METALLANDFILLING/INCINERATI
RECOVERY
LANDFILLING/INCINERATI
ON
ON
(Strictly
(Strictly Prohibited
Prohibited to
to
minimize
environmental
minimize environmental
Pollution
Pollution

Metal
Metal Extraction
Extraction

PYROMETALLUTRGY
PYROMETALLUTRGY
Thermal treatment,
treatment,
Thermal
Energy
Energy Intensive
Intensive

Acid Leaching

highly energyintensive, may

liberate toxic gases
to the environment
LEACHING

HYDROMETALLURGY
Easy implementation,
Lower energy
consumption

CHELATION
Technology
Zero Waste
Technology.
Temperature
requirement and nonbiodegradability of
conventional chelation
agents are major

hazardous to
handle, highly
corrosive
environment,
Alkali
leaching of the
support
metaselective
precipitation of
recovered metall ,
requires further

Bio
Longer leaching
Leaching
time , less
acceptance in
the environment
due to
contamination
possibilities.

CHOOSING BIOLOGICAL
PROCESS
Chemical
Processe
s

Biochemi
cal
Processe
s

LITERATURE REVIEW
Author

Experimental Setup

Operating Parameters

Remarks

M.Saidan & M. valix

(2006)

Performed bioleaching of
copper from e-waste using
Aspergillus Niger and
Acidothiobacillus thiooxidans

E-waste particle size: 40-104m

pH: 1.5 to 2
Operation time: 24 hours

82% Solubilization of copper.

Y.Hong & M. Valix (2013)

Performed bioleaching of
copper rich electronic waste
using acidophilic sulfur
oxidizing bacteria.

Magnetic separation after grinding.

E-waste particle size: 40-104m
Acidic medium
Variation of temperature

10 g/dm3 of waste do not pose

any toxic effects on the A.
thiooxidans and is the optimal
pulp density to achieve
maximum
copper dissolution.

Jingying Li et. al., (2014)

Performed bioleaching of gold

from waste PCB using
chromobacterium violaceum

Maintained dissolved oxygen level.

Copper was removed during pretreatment of ewaste.
particle size: 200 mesh
The optimum amount of MgSO47H2O and
NaCl is 4 9 10-3 mol/L, 1.7 9 10-1 mol/L,
respectively.

Without pretreatment, the gold

leaching efficiency is
only 19.8 %.
The maximum gold leaching
efficiency can reach 70.6 and
52.4 %, respectively. The
optimum amount of
MgSO47H2O and NaCl is 4 9
10-3 mol/L, 1.7 9 10-1 mol/L,
respectively.

Nakade Dhanraj B. (2014)

Performed bioleaching of
metals from waste PCB using
halophilic pseudomonas
dechromaticans N-29

Shake flask & Bioreactor level

pH: 4
Temperature: 40C
RPM: 120
pulp density 40%
Yeast extract 0.5g/L
Operation time: 10 to 12 days

maximum recovery was about

4% of inoculums size

LITERATURE REVIEW
Author

(CONTD.)

Experimental Setup

Operating Parameters

Remarks

Sirikan Maneesu Vanarat

et. al., (2015)

Bioleaching of gallium from

gallium-arsenide by
Cellulosimicrobium funkei and
its application to
semiconductors and electronic
waste.

Temperature: 30C
RPM: 150
Medium: LB
Operation time: 15 to 30days
Effect of substrate concentration on GaAs
leaching
Bioleaching using growth supernatant at
different phases

63 & 81% Ga leaching after

15 & 30 days respectively

Weihua Gu, et. al., (2014)

Characterized Acidithiobacillus
ferrooxidans for bioleaching of
copper from flexible PCB by
ICP-AES.

Temperature: 28C
RPM: 125
pH: 2
Medium: 9K

90.10% leaching of copper

M. A. Rivero Hudec, et.

al., (2009)

Biorecovery of Metals from

coarsely shredded PCB of 0.81.7 mm using Acidiphilium
acidophilum (ATCC 27807)

Temperature: 26C

9.1%, 86% & 40.8% of Cu, Ni & Zn

leached respectively.

RPM: 150
pH: 3.5
Medium: 9K-glucose

Eva Benzal, et. al., (2014)

Bioleaching of copper from

waste PCB from mobile phones
using Acidithiobacillus
ferrooxidans

Temperature: 30C
RPM: 120
pH: 2
Medium: Mineral Medium

Increase of 30% of copper

recovered from the PCBs
extracting the 99% of copper
contained in the boards
compared to mineral
bioleaching.

OBJECTIVE

The current project was carried out with the following objectives:
To Prepare the PCB for Bioleaching Process.
To Characterize the PCB

PREPARATION OF PCB

SEGREGATION OF PCB

SEM RESULTS

UNWASHED

WASHED

PROCESS FLOW CHART

SEM Analysis

CONCLUSION
Exponential growth in the generation of e-waste, their complex
composition and potential hazardous consequences to human
health and environment due to incorrect handling and treatment of
e-waste have intensified the call for efficient handling and
stringent management of this riotous solid waste stream.
This work is expected to offer an incentive to the industrial
practice for waste minimization, significant recovery of metals,
and the noncorrosive, eco-friendly approach for metal extraction.

References
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(2014): 495-504.
Ilyas, Sadia, et al. "Bioleaching of metals from electronic scrap by
moderately thermophilic acidophilic bacteria."Hydrometallurgy88.1
(2007): 180-188.
Saidan, M., and M. Valix. "Bioleaching of copper from electronic waste
using'aspergillus niger'and'acidithiobacillus'."Chemeca 2011:
Engineering a Better World: Sydney Hilton Hotel, NSW, Australia, 18-21
September 2011(2011): 1779.
Hong, Y., and M. Valix. "Bioleaching of electronic waste using acidophilic
sulfur oxidising bacteria."Journal of Cleaner Production65 (2014): 465472.
Li, Jingying, Changjin Liang, and Chuanjing Ma. "Bioleaching of gold
from waste printed circuit boards by Chromobacterium
violaceum."Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management17.3
(2015): 529-539.
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