Biomining and Waste Recovery: Overviews

Biomining harnesses the power of acidophilic microorganisms to extract metals from primary ores and secondary waste streams, offering a sustainable alternative to energy-intensive pyrometallurgy. This chapter details the core principles of biomining, explaining the direct and indirect microbial mechanisms—centered on the ferric iron cycle—that solubilize metals from sulfide minerals. It reviews technologies from low-complexity dump and heap leaching to high-control stirred-tank biooxidation of refractory concentrates. A central focus is the paradigm shift from processing traditional ores to reclaiming metals from electronic waste (e-waste). We present a comparative analysis, contrasting the homogeneous, sulfide-rich feedstocks of the geosphere with the heterogeneous, high-grade “urban mine,” highlighting distinct microbial strategies and reactor-based approaches tailored for circular economy objectives. While challenges in kinetics, process control, and waste stream management persist, global trends such as declining ore grades, stringent environmental regulations, and the demand for critical raw materials are accelerating innovation. Biomining thus stands as a pivotal, eco-efficient biotechnology, bridging responsible resource extraction with environmental stewardship and securing its role in the future of sustainable metallurgy.