Non-ferrous Fenton’s Oxidation of Ametryn Using Bioleached E-waste Copper as a Catalyst

Abstract

Shake flask study on bioleaching of copper from e-waste using novel isolated bacterial strain Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans BMSNITK17 was conducted and reported. Under suitable conditions, about 77% of copper was recovered. The process was optimized with several influencing parameters like pulp density, pH, inoculum, temperature, and shake flask speed. To find the vital variables that affect copper dissolution, correlation studies and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed. Investigation on the application of recovered copper as a catalyst in Fenton’s oxidation of ametryn proved the catalytic role of copper with 87% of ametryn degradation efficiency. This study confirms the usage potential of acidophilic bacterial strain toward recovery of valuable metals from e-waste and its application as a catalyst in advanced oxidation process for the degradation of organic pollutants. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2022, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.