Bioleaching of heavy metals from dewatered sludge by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Abstract The feasibility of bioleaching for removal of heavy metals from dewatered sewage sludge using an iron‐oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was investigated. The influence of seven process parameters including cell adaptation, total amount and particle size of the sludge, initial concentrations of Fe2+ and At ferrooxidans, and addition of inorganic nutrients and sulfur were evaluated in terms of the solubilization of Zn, Cu and Cr. When sludge‐adapted cells, addition of inorganic nutrients and lower sludge content were involved, higher yields of metal extraction were obtained. However, higher initial concentrations of At ferrooxidans and Fe2+, fine particle size of the sludge and S addition did not improve the metals' solubilization during an experimental period of 7 days. As a result of a long‐term (40 days) bioleaching experiment, 42% of Zn (1300–1648 mg kg−1), 39% of Cu (613–774 mg kg−1) and 10% of Cr (37–44 mg kg−1) in the sludge were leached into the solution. The results indicate that a bioleaching process conducted under operationally optimal conditions can be effectively employed for the removal of heavy metals from sewage sludge before land application. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry