With the global demand for economically important metals increasing, compounded by the depletion of readily accessible ores, secondary resources and low-grade ores are being targeted to meet growing demands. Novel technologies developed within biobased industries, such as microbial biosurfactants, could be implemented to improve the sustainability of traditional hydrometallurgy techniques. This study investigates newly developed microbial biosurfactants (acidic- and bolaform glycolipids) for the leaching of metals (particularly Cu and Zn) from a suite of mine tailings, metallurgical sludges and automotive shredder residues. Generally, acidic sophorolipids were the most performant, and optimal Cu leaching was observed from a fayalite slag (27%) and a copper sulfide mine tailing (53%). Further investigation of the leached fayalite material showed that leaching was occurring from small metallic Cu droplets in this material via a corrosion-based mechanism, and/or from Cu-Pb sulfides, selective against dominant Fe-silicate matrices. This study highlights that acidic sophorolipid microbial biosurfactants have the potential to leach Cu and Zn from low-grade secondary materials. It also provides important fundamental insights into biosurfactant-metal and mineral interactions that are currently unexplored. Together, the convergence of leaching and mining industries with bio-industries can improve material recovery and will positively impact the bio- and circular economies and the environment.

随着全球对具有重要经济意义的金属需求的增加，再加上容易获得的矿石的枯竭，次级资源和低品位矿石的目标是满足不断增长的需求。可以实施生物基产业内部开发的新技术，例如微生物生物表面活性剂，以提高传统湿法冶金技术的可持续性。这项研究调查了新开发的微生物表面活性剂（酸性和硼状糖脂），用于从一组矿山尾矿，冶金污泥和汽车切碎残渣中浸出金属（尤其是铜和锌）。通常，酸性槐糖脂性能最高，从铁橄榄石矿渣（27％）和硫化铜矿尾矿（53％）中观察到最佳的铜浸出。对浸出的铁橄榄石材料的进一步研究表明，这种材料中的小金属Cu液滴通过基于腐蚀的机理发生浸出，和/或从Cu-Pb硫化物发生浸出，对主要的Fe-硅酸盐基质具有选择性。这项研究强调，酸性槐糖脂微生物表面活性剂具有从低品位次生材料中浸出铜和锌的潜力。它还为目前尚未开发的生物表面活性剂与金属和矿物质的相互作用提供了重要的基础见解。沥滤和采矿业与生物工业的融合在一起可以提高物质的回收率，并将对生物和循环经济以及环境产生积极影响。对主要的铁硅酸盐基质具有选择性。这项研究强调，酸性槐糖脂微生物表面活性剂具有从低品位次生材料中浸出铜和锌的潜力。它还为目前尚未开发的生物表面活性剂与金属和矿物质的相互作用提供了重要的基础见解。沥滤和采矿业与生物工业的融合在一起可以提高物质的回收率，并将对生物和循环经济以及环境产生积极影响。对主要的铁硅酸盐基质具有选择性。这项研究强调，酸性槐糖脂微生物表面活性剂具有从低品位次生材料中浸出铜和锌的潜力。它还为目前尚未开发的生物表面活性剂与金属和矿物质的相互作用提供了重要的基础见解。沥滤和采矿业与生物工业的融合在一起可以提高物质的回收率，并将对生物和循环经济以及环境产生积极影响。