ASSESSING METAL RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH BIOLEACHING FROM PAST METALLURGICAL SITES AND WASTE DEPOSITS: UK CASE STUDY

Recovery of metals from former industrial areas (also called brownfields) and closed landfill sites, are critical for future sustainable development reducing the environmental risks they posed. In this study, feasibility using bioleaching resource recovery raw secondary materials a metallurgical site deposit (PMSD) located in UK was investigated. Determination physicochemical parameters (conductivity, pH, moisture ash content) that can affect performance along with metal content analysis were carried out. Field measurement also out portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer as rapid tool compared induced coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) results. Fe (469,700 mg/kg), Ca (25,900 mg/kg) Zn (14,600 most dominant elements present samples followed by Mn (8,600 Si (3,000 Pb (2,400 mg/kg). The pXRF results demonstrated minimal variance (<10%) ICP-MS preliminary assessment Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans at 5% pulp density 22 g/L energy source 10% (v/v) inoculum pH 1.5 showed 100% Ti Cu, 32% 24% recovered sample material, highlighting opportunities such through processes.