Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 7: 207 - 213. Published July 2008.
Aluminum solubilization from red mud by someindigenous fungi in Iran
Y.Ghorbani*^, M. Oliazadeh**, A.Shahvedi***
* Mining Engineering Department., Sahand Industrial University; ** Mining Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran; *** Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, University of Tehran, Iran.
^Corresponding author email: ghorbani@sut.ac.irABSTRACT
Objective: The biological leaching of aluminum (Al) by fungi isolated from red mud, the main waste product of the alkaline extraction of Al from bauxite was studied.
Methodology and results: Biological leaching experiments were carried out using indigenous fungal isolates, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum. Sabouroud Dextrose Chloramphenicol Agar (SDA) was used as medium for culturing the selected fungi. All microorganisms were tested for acid-production and leaching capabilities of aluminum from red mud. Leaching tests were performed in 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks at 28°C and 150 rpm under aseptic conditions. Heating of red mud and its impact on the leaching process was also investigated. Indigenous specimen fungi were the most efficient with 2082 mg of Al2O3/l solubilized at 15% pulp density of red mud. The metal content of leaching solution was determined using wet chemical and atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Conclusion and application of findings: Significant amounts of Aluminum and Titanium were obtained through bioleaching processes thus demonstrating that some Iranian fungal isolates have potential application in extraction of metals. Further research could lead to discovery of more efficient isolates and improvement in efficiency of the bioleaching technology.
Key words: Biological leaching, red mud, waste, Bayer process, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium, fungi.
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