Bioleaching of copper, aluminum, magnesium and manganese from brown shale by Ganoderma lucidum

Abstract

The present study was done to check the bioleaching feasibility of brown shale for the recovery of copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) ions using Ganoderma lucidum. Different experimental parameters were optimized for the enhanced recovery of metals ions. Effect of different substrates like glucose, molasses, saw dust and cotton seed cake on the recovery of metals ions was investigated under shaking as well as non-shaking conditions. Significant difference in leaching of metal ions by G. lucidum was observed under shaking and non shaking conditions. Maximum leaching of Al (90.7%), Mg (96.46%), Mn (66.3%) and Cu (73.45%) was observed using glucose under shaking conditions with 5, 3, 4 and 3% pulp densities respectively. The results show that maximum solubilization up to 68.89, 77.03 and 38.37% was achieved for Cu, Al and Mg ions respectively using molasses as substrate, whereas, 57.74% recovery of Mn was achieved with saw dust. The recovery of metal ions indicated that this low grade discarded ore may be a potential source of metal ions in future.

Key words: Recovery, brown shale, Ganoderma lucidum, organic acids, pulp density.