AUTHOR=Narenkumar Jayaraman , Sathishkumar Kuppusamy , Das Bhaskar , Rajasekar Aruliah , Rajakrishnan R. , Rajamohan Rajaram , Malik Tabarak 

TITLE=An integrated approach of bioleaching-enhanced electrokinetic remediation of heavy metals from municipal waste incineration fly ash using Acidithiobacillus spp

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Environmental Science

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1273930

DOI=10.3389/fenvs.2023.1273930

ISSN=2296-665X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration fly ash is a harmful residue formed during the incineration process. It contains high concentrations of hazardous heavy metals, such as lead, zinc, aluminum, and iron.</p><p><bold>Methodology:</bold> In this study, bioleaching integrated with an electrokinetic approach for heavy metal remediation from MSW incineration fly ash using <italic>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</italic> and <italic>Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans</italic> bacteria was tested.</p><p><bold>Results and discussion:</bold> The physicochemical properties of fly ash included a particle size of 26.1 μm, with the presence of heavy metals. <italic>A. ferrooxidans and A. thiooxidans</italic> produced sulphuric acid (0.0289 M and 0.0352 M) during the proliferation; this acid enhances the bioleaching of heavy metals from fly ash. The results of an integrated approach showed an 85%, 47%, 92%, 85%, 46%, 67% 11%, and 55% removal of the heavy metals K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, Pb, and Mg, respectively, in the presence of <italic>A. ferrooxidans</italic>. Overall, these results evidenced that heavy metals were completely removed from the fly ash using an integrated approach<bold>.</bold> Therefore, this integrated approach can be used as an effective heavy metal removal method for treating fly ash in MSW.</p>