Open AccessSimultaneous lithium bioleaching and bioaccumulation from lepidolite using microscopic fungus Aspergillus niger
Author(s) -
R. Marcinčáková,
Alena Luptáková,
Marek Vojtko,
Martin Fujda,
Jana Sedláková-Kaduková
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nova biotechnologica et chimica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.212
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 1339-004X
pISSN - 1338-6905
DOI - 10.36547/nbc.v19i2.771
Subject(s) - bioleaching , aspergillus niger , chemistry , bioaccumulation , leaching (pedology) , pulp and paper industry , metallurgy , food science , environmental chemistry , biology , materials science , ecology , organic chemistry , copper , engineering , soil water
The leaching of lithium from lepidolite using the filamentous fungus Aspergilluss niger was examined. Two mechanisms were suggested – biochemical using citric acid as the main bioleaching agent and biomechanical through hyphae penetration confirmed by XRD and SEM analyses. The bioleaching processes were conducted at various glucose concentrations (5 – 20 g.L-1). The higher glucose concentration was, the higher Li bioleaching was observed. Li accumulation by fungal biomass played an important role in Li solubilisation from lepidolite. Totally, 11.5 mg of lithium were recovered from 1 kg of lepidolite by combination of bioleaching and bioaccumulation processes. As a result of bioleaching, the formation of new silicate phase of SiO2 was detected. According to the results, fungal bioleaching of Li from lepidolite can be a perspective way of Li recovery from hard-rock ores.