Chapter 7 - Bioleaching of Electronic Waste Using Extreme Acidophiles

Abstract

Extreme acidophiles, an important group of extreme microorganisms, influence the iron and sulfur cycles in various extremely acidic environments. With the substantial growth of electronic waste, extreme acidophiles have become increasingly economically and ecologically significant. Electronic waste contains a huge number of valuable metals that are worth recycling. Bioleaching has attracted widespread attention as a sustainable and promising technology for the recovery of electronic waste. The extreme acidophiles play an important role in bioleaching. Therefore, this chapter summarizes the diversity of microorganisms in extremely acidic environments and their application in the bioleaching of electronic waste. The factors influencing bioleaching and methods for enhancing bioleaching efficiency are also summarized here.