Metal bioleaching from spent lithium-ion batteries using acidophilic bacterial strains

In this present work lithium recovery from lepidolite (3.79% Li2O) by bioleaching was investigated. This process was carried out using the heterotrophic microorganism Rhodotorula rubra. It is supposed that microbial adaptation to a low nutrient environment may enhance metal bioleaching process. Taking this fact into account a salt-limited medium composed only of glucose and distilled water at the pH = 5.12 was used as a bioleaching medium. Since R. rubra is characterized by a high ability to accumulate metals lithium was determined in the leach liquor and in the biomass. The overall lithium extracted during the bioleaching using R. rubra was 629 ?g/l.