Mining with Microorganisms for Environmental Sustainability and Minerals Bio-Circularity

Department of Life Sciences, Rama Devi Women’s University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

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Abstract

Mining activities release heavy metals, chemicals, and other toxic pollutants into the environment and pollute soil and water sources, posing threats to human health. The consequence of mining pollution in the environment has a significantly larger impact on the overall ecosystem because of extensive mining activities, industrial production, and inappropriate disposal methods. The application of microorganisms to recover and recycle metals from mine tailings and waste provides a sustainable and circular approach to mining waste management. Mining microorganisms with their metal bio-solubilization ability play a significant role in natural minerals biogeochemical cycling. Assimilating mining waste management with sustainability and financial progress is a foremost revolution in the circular economy. The recovery of precious metals from mining wastes has significant potential, with widespread applications to modern society. The resulting pollution and exposure caused by conventional metal recovery techniques cause major health concerns. Bioleaching is a proven technique for the revitalization of valuable metals and rare earth elements from various sectors, enabling the recovery of metals from low-grade ores, mine tailings, and electronic waste, thereby transforming waste into a resource. In the future, the bioleaching process of utilising microorganisms to transform waste into value-added products must be established as a greener and more sustainable alternative. With advanced bioremediation technology, novel methods will be developed for the remediation, recovery, and recycling of different metal values from mining tailings.