Electronic Waste Management by Biological Leaching

Abstract

The electronic industry is the largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry in the world. Electronic waste or E-waste is one of the emerging problems in developed and developing countries. Most of these e-wastes are ending up in dumping yards and recycling centers, posing a new challenge to the environment and policy makers as well. Toxic metals in the E-waste are usually non -biodegradable and they will create harmful long lasting negative consequences on the environment in general and our health particular. Currently E-waste is treated by chemical leaching, it gives more environmental issues due to usage of inorganic chemicals in treatment process. So that, the E-waste can be used for extraction of metals by the process of biological leaching. It is the process of extraction of metal from source by using biological organism. In this process involve numerous ferrous iron and sulfur oxidizing bacteria, acidophilic bacteria which is grown in acid medium. The acid mine drainage (AMD) is the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. AMD is recognized as one of the most serious environmental problem in the mining industry. It is also toxic and difficult to managing this water. Due to the presence of sulphide metal in the ore, which is released after the mining process, will react with atmosphere and water forms sulphuric acid which poses potential harm to the environment and eco system. This acid medium is most suitable for the development of acidophilic bacteria’s. In this project, the Acidophilic bacteria in AMD can be suggested for process of recycling in biological leaching of electronic waste. This process can be used for both bioleaching of E-waste and management of mining waste water. The process will suppress the harmfulness in both E-waste and waste mining water.