Brandl
Fakultäten » Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät » Evolutionsbiologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Institut für » Ecology & Environment » PD Dr. Helmut Brandl » Brandl
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Microbial metal mobilization and recovery from solid metal-containing materials | ||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | The objective of the project is to apply a bacterial leaching process ("bioleaching") for the recovery of metals from solid materials such as incineration residues, galvanic sludge, or electronic scrap as well as metal-contaminated soils. These materials can be considered as "artificial ores" due to their high heavy metal contents. Bioleaching allows the cycling of metals by a process close to natural biogeochemical cycles reducing the demand for ressources such as ores, energy, or landfill space. Bioleaching represents a biological technique which is not dependent on high energy inputs and is competitively in juxtaposition to thermal techniques. In addition, these techniques fit well with the overall "green" movement of maintaining nature's harmony that dominates environmental awareness and much of public policy today. Government regulations and (research) policies that favor green technologies are a key incentive for developing such technologies. These find a wide acceptance in public and in politics. It is a matter of innovative technologies with a proved market gap. | ||||||
| Publications / Publikationen | Krebs W., Brombacher C., Bosshard P.P., Bachofen R., Brandl H. (1997) Microbial recovery of metals from solids. FEMS Microbiological Reviews 20:605-617Brombacher C., Bachofen R., Brandl H. (1998) Development of a laboratory-scale leaching plant for metal extraction from fly ash by Thiobacillus strains. Applied & Environmental Microbiology 64(4):1237-1241Brandl H., Bosshard R., Wegmann M. (2001) Computer-munching microbes: metal leaching from electronic scrap by bacteria and fungi. Hydrometallurgy 59(2-3):319-326 | ||||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | bioleaching, solid waste, fly ash, electronic scrap, soil, heavy metals, mobilization, recovery, bacteria, fungi, microorganisms, Thiobacillus, Acidithiobacillus, Aspergillus, Penicillium | ||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
SNF (Personen- und Projektförderung) |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Jan 1996 to Jul 2000 |