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2. Eco-friendly bioleaching : innovative technology for extracting critical raw materials from WEEDragica Marinič, Miha Štruc, Primož Oprčkal, 2025, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The rapid growth of the quantity of generated electronic waste (ewaste), driven by the increasing demand for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), has raised urgent concerns regarding its environmental and health impacts. E-waste is the fastes tgrowing global waste stream, with only a small fraction recycled sustainably. Printed circuit boards (PCBs), a major component of e-waste, contain valuable metals and hazardous substances, complicating recycling efforts. This study explores bioleaching as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional recycling methods. Bioleaching, utilising microorganisms such as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and A. thiooxidans, which can effectively extracts metals like copper, nickel, and zinc from e-waste, reducing environmental contamination. Our research, conducted under the EIT RawMaterials WEEE-NET9 project, focuses on bioleaching's potential for sustainable recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs) from e-waste. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of bioleaching in metal extraction, supporting the EU's goals of increasing CRM recycling and reducing reliance on primary sources for critical materials, which we have to import into the EU.
Keywords: e-waste, critical raw materials, circular economy, bioleaching, EIT RawMaterials WEEE-NET9 project
Published in DiRROS: 16.07.2025; Views: 1339; Downloads: 561
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3. Site-specific dataset of mining and metallurgical residues for resource managementCarlo Cormio, Marta Fernández-Alonso, Peter Cleall, Soraya Heuss-Aßbichler, Daniela Guglietta, Danielle Sinnett, Katalin Szabó, Gorazd Žibret, Maria Teresa Carvalho, Ulrich Kral, Tim T. Werner, Bruno Lemiere, 2024, other scientific articles Abstract: This geospatial dataset provides a compilation of findings from an evidence-based review of site-specific resource assessments of mining and metallurgical residues. Information pertaining to location, target material, geological knowledge, extractability, resource classification and stakeholder perspectives was collected from publicly available reports, articles, academic theses, and databases. The dataset includes 44 relevant data attributes from 64 mining and metallurgical sites in 27 countries. Resource classification is available for 38 sites. The dataset can be used by evaluators of recovery projects, authorities that provide permits, as well as by decision makers in support of developing regulatory policies. The dataset facilitates future addition of sites by the research community and can be further used as a starting point to bridge the estimates on recoverable quantities to the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC). The UNFC is a universally applicable scheme for the sustainable management of all energy, primary and secondary mineral resources. Its use is stimulated by the European Commission and is intended to be adopted by geological surveys to harmonize the data on the availability of primary and secondary raw materials in Europe in future.
Keywords: resources, reserves, mining waste, secondary raw materials, tailings, geodatabase, circular economy, resource assessment
Published in DiRROS: 10.06.2024; Views: 1390; Downloads: 644
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4. Recovery of phosphorus and metals from the ash of sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, or wood biomass : a review and proposals for further useSara Tominc, Vilma Ducman, Wolfgang Wisniewski, Terttu Luukkonen, Kirkelund Gunvor M., Ottosen Lisbeth M., 2023, original scientific article Abstract: This review provides an overview of methods to extract valuable resources from the ash fractions of sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, and wood biomass combustion. The resources addressed here include critical raw materials, such as phosphorus, base and precious metals, and rare earth elements for which it is increasingly important to tap into secondary sources in addition to the mining of primary raw materials. The extraction technologies prioritized in this review are based on recycled acids or excess renewable energy to achieve an optimum environmental profile for the extracted resources and provide benefits in the form of local industrial symbioses. The extraction methods cover all scarce and valuable chemical elements contained in the ashes above certain concentration limits. Another important part of this review is defining potential applications for the mineral residues remaining after extraction. Therefore, the aim of this review is to combine the knowledge of resource extraction technology from ashes with possible applications of mineral residues in construction and related sectors to fully close material cycle loops.
Keywords: critical raw materials, extraction, sewage sludge ash, municipal solid waste incineration ash, wood biomass ash
Published in DiRROS: 03.11.2023; Views: 2297; Downloads: 1394
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