Recovery of cadmium, lead, strontium and zinc from jarosite waste by using a combinatory approach of bioleaching and acid leaching

Metallurgical processes commonly generate substantial volumes of hazardous waste, and the extraction of zinc is no exception, yielding a byproduct known as jarosite. This study aims to establish an environmentally conscious and economically viable method for recuperating residual metals from jarosite waste. Comprehensive morphological and physico-chemical characterisation of jarosite was performed using XRD, FTIR, SEM and EDS. To facilitate the selective biorecovery of cadmium, lead, strontium and zinc, Shewanella putrefaciens was employed. The efficacy of biorecovery was systematically assessed using both solid-state and liquid-state leaching methodologies. The results indicate that liquid-state leaching outperformed solid-state leaching for all four heavy metal ions. Notably, biotreated jarosite demonstrated markedly superior metal recovery (Cd, Pb, Sr and Zn) compared to non-biotreated jarosite. This investigation advocates for a hybrid approach, involving bioleaching followed by acid treatment, as a more efficacious strategy for the sustainable recovery of heavy metals from jarosite-like waste. These findings not only underscore the potential of environment-friendly biorecovery techniques but also offer a promising avenue for enhancing the ecological sustainability of waste management practices within the metallurgical industry.