Microbial technologies for sustainable recovery of critical metals from battery waste

Abstract

Due to the high need for energy storage around the globe, there’s an urgent need for to recycle spent batteries in greener ways. Microbial-assisted recycling is one of the methods, where specialized microorganisms are used to extract metals and recover valuable materials from spent batteries. This review describes microbial degradation operate-focusing on the basics of bioleaching and the roles of key bugs. The microbial pathways such as biosorption, bio-oxidation, and bio-reduction are deliberated with microorganisms including Acidithiobacillus , Aspergillus , and Shewanella species. The article is highlighting how factors such as pH, pulp density, and culturing conditions can contribute the scales when it comes to efficient metal recovery. It also surveys modern advances, such as using mixed cultures including various microorganisms, and how they help create a truly circular battery economy. It also takes a look at hurdles like scaling up the process, dealing with diverse battery waste, and fitting these biological methods into established recycling infrastructure. This review critically evaluates the use of microbial-assisted recycling as a sustainable approach for recovering critical metals from spent batteries without affecting the environmental.