ISSN 2756-3251
Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Bioleaching of Heavy Metals from ESP Dust of Sponge Iron Plant Using Fungal Strains
Pradip K. Jena1, C. S. K. Mishra1*, D. K. Behera2, S. Mishra3 and L. B. Sukla3
1College of Basic Science and Humanities, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar-751003, Orissa, India.
2Tata Steel Limited, Jamshedpur-831005, Jharkhand, India.
3Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR), Bhubaneswar-751013, Orissa, India.
Accepted 19 March, 2024
Coal based sponge iron industries in India generate considerable quantity of solid waste, 40% of which is flue dust produced from the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) connected to rotary kiln. This paper reports the dissolution of Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn and Fe from the ESP dust using three fungal species, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus at 5 and 10% pulp densities over a period of 28 days. Highest metal leaching was achieved with A. niger followed by A. flavus. The least metal leaching was achieved with A. fumigatus. The pH of the medium declined consistently over the incubation period. Maximum leaching for Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn and Fe were 81, 76, 74, 72 and 52% respectively.
Key words: Fungal leaching, sponge iron, electrostatic precipitator (ESP) dust, metal dissolution.