Removing and Recovering Heavy Metals from Solutions Using Biosurfactants

This technology utilises the unique properties of a specific type of biosurfactant to selectively recover metals from solution. Using comparatively low concentrations of biosurfactant, the metals can be recovered (and potentially valorised), and the surfactant can even be recycled back for further metal recovery. This technology managed to reduce the metal content by up to 85%, even at very low metal concentrations. This technology works particularly well with divalent cations, and has potential application in the recovery of metals from leachates (such as copper).