文摘
Tungsten (W) is present in the waste products of used scrap metal. The recovery of W from urban mines has become increasingly warranted because of the growing demand for W in the manufacturing of advanced materials and for use within key industries (e.g., the automotive industry). In this study, processes involving the biosorption of W from urban mines by microbes (e.g., Escherichia coli and beer yeast) were evaluated for their adoptability as an environmentally friendly recycling process. Selective biosorption of W and molybdenum (Mo) ions from multicomponent metal solutions containing W, Mo, and vanadium(V) ions was successfully achieved by controlling the concentration of both cells (2.58 × 108 cells/mL) and the solution pH (1.4). These biosorption tests were also applied to a real waste solution composed of used scrap comprising tungsten carbide (WC). It was shown that E. coli cells and beer yeast successfully and preferentially adsorbed the W ion from the real waste solution. To confirm the feasibility of the biosorption process to practical applications, the recycling of WC tips from real waste products was demonstrated using beer yeast biosorption methods. The required costs, equipment (e.g., tanks), and facilities for application of the biosorption process were also evaluated.