Bacteria used to recover gold from e-scrap

Iran – Iranian scientists claim to have recovered valuable metals from e-scrap via a biological route.

Mahdokht Arshad, a researcher from Tehran, has succeeding in extracting both copper and gold from discarded electronics by exploiting two indigenous bacteria, according to the Mehr news agency.

The two-step process is based on bio-leaching – a simple and inexpensive method, Arshad maintains. ‘The benefits are clear,’ he insists. ‘There is a high rate of added value and, moreover, it is environmentally friendly.’

Arshad’s recycling initiative, claimed to be the first of its kind worldwide, has recently won a major Iranian award.