Bioleaching of Electronic Waste

Abstract This review examines the status of bioleaching technology in recovering valuable metals from electronic waste (e-waste). Bioleaching of e-waste is reviewed with emphasis on the mechanisms of leaching, the diverse organisms that have been used, and the factors that have affected their performance, including the bacteriostatic effects of the leaching environment and the roles of indirect leaching, microbial tolerance training, microbial consortia, and bacterial attachment. The efficiency of the bioleaching process is influenced by the effects of various abiotic factors including the metallic composition of the waste, the waste components, and the secondary reactions. Finally this review considers the future research that is required to advance the bioleaching of e-waste to a stage that will enable its practical and sustainable implementation.