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Thesis topic proposal
 
Viktória Dóra Feigl
Bioleaching of critical raw materials from bauxite residue

THESIS TOPIC PROPOSAL

Institute: Budapest University of Technology and Economics
bio, environmental and chemical engineering
George A. Olah Doctoral School of Chemistry and Chemical Technology

Thesis supervisor: Viktória Dóra Feigl
Location of studies (in Hungarian): BME Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science
Abbreviation of location of studies: BME


Description of the research topic:

Bauxite residue (red mud) is the waste of alumina production from bauxite by the Bayer process. It is an ideal resource for economically important elements, such as Sc, Ga, Ti, V and rare earth elements (REEs), due to the increasing demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) in Europe with increasing supply risk. Biotechnological approaches for CRM recovery show advantages compared to pyro- and hydrometallurgical processes, e.g., lower temperatures, less chemical consumption, and lower costs. Bioleaching (biomining) applies microorganisms to solubilise metals from hardly soluble substrates. This PhD project aims to understand the mechanisms of bioleaching processes for the leaching of targeted CRMs by fungi and bacteria from various European bauxite residues. The PhD candidate will examine the effect of microbial media composition, BR pulp density, contact time, temperature, and shaking on bioleaching and the potential for selective leaching of elements. They will also assess the characteristics of the leaching residue and its reusability. Environmental and economic aspects of the novel biotechnological approach will be investigated. The ideal candidate knows the fields of biotechnology, microbiology and environmental chemistry. The results will contribute to the potential application of bioleaching as a green, bio-based technology for CRM extraction from bauxite residues.

Number of students who can be accepted: 1

Deadline for application: 2024-05-30


2024. IV. 17.
ODT ülés
Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).

 
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