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Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the biological recovery of metals in electric and electronic waste, which comprises a) inoculating a series of iron-oxidizing microorganisms and a mineral medium or fertilizers into an immobilized biomass column; b) performing a stage of biological oxidation of the iron II ions present in said mineral medium or fertilizers to iron III ions; c) irrigating a liquid phase into leaching columns that house an electrical material or one or more printed circuit boards from which metals are to be recovered, the iron III ions being reduced to iron II oxidizing the metals, and separating the metals by means of the dissolution thereof; and d) extracting the metals from the solution. The invention operates under a cyclic process that allows the iron II solution being re-circulated to the biomass column.

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First Claim