Bio-assisted Closed loop recycling of E-Mobility Metals from waste PCBs and Li-Ion Batteries (BaCLEM)

BaCLEM aims to introduce technological solution to increase the recycling efficiency of low-grade printed circuit boards (PCBs) & spent Li-ion batteries. The bio-based approach employs a purposely developed robust bacterial consortium (acidophilic & heterotrophic micro-organisms) able to work at high pulp-densities & sustain high metal tolerances during leaching. These micro-organisms will be made available through combination between genetically engineered construction & design and use of “bacteriocins- approach”, which will provide an innovative break-through in biohydrometallurgical research per se. The e-waste feedstock (low-grade PCB’s and spent LIBs) will be purposely preconditioned as to guarantee efficient metals solubilisation under industrially relevant constraints. The entirely bio-based flow-sheet envisaged will ultimately enable selective recovery of E-mobility metals (Cu, Co, Ni, Li, Mn, Au & Ag) with their subsequent concentration into enriched fractions which have commercial value (metal carbonates, metal sulfides and nano-powders).