Bioelectrochemical metal remediation and recovery of Au3+, Co2+ and Fe3+ metal ions

We report influences of the gamma proteobacteria Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 on electronation and electrodeposition phenomena of gold, cobalt and iron ionic species dissolved in aqueous effluents of low pH as novel strategies for the recovery and remediation of these metals. Linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry was used and analysed for the evaluation of changes of respective electron transfer reactions occurring at the electrified interface of graphite electrode for electrolytes of pH 2 and low metal ion concentrations of 200 ppm. This study focuses on changes in electronation thermodynamics, preliminary results show shifts in the reverse potentials of gold electrodeposition and ferric iron electronation with implications for energy savings.