Room: Poster Area
Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 15:00 - 16:00 CEST
Session code 6CV.6
Biomass conversion into bio-based chemicals and high-value compounds (part 2)
Combined Bioleaching and Biosorption for Selective Metal Recovery from Electronic Waste
Short Introductive summary
This work presents an integrated bioleaching–biosorption strategy for selective metal recovery from electronic waste using a single microbial system, Gluconobacter oxydans. Gluconic acid, biologically produced during microbial cultivation, serves as a selective lixiviant for indirect bioleaching of a standardized metal–plastic matrix. The recovered microbial biomass is subsequently applied as a biosorbent to the resulting leachate, enabling downstream metal fractionation without additional chemical inputs. This dual valorization of biomass-derived lixiviant production coupled with biomass-mediated metal separation introduces a logically structured biological workflow that leverages existing cultivation infrastructure while reducing reliance on conventional chemical reagents. Preliminary results demonstrate selective solubilization and partial fractionation of rare earth elements, supporting the further development of integrated biological strategies for critical metal recovery.
Presenter
Jonathan BALON
Biofactory Competence Center, Chemistry/Biotechnology, SWITZERLAND
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
R.-J. Martins, Biofactory Competence Center, Fribourg, SWITZERLAND
J. Bugnon, Biofactory Competence Center, Fribourg, SWITZERLAND
C. Jungo-Rhême, Biofactory Competence Center, Fribourg, SWITZERLAND
Session reference: 6CV.6.27