**5. Application of biosorption to some newer wastes and products**

Apart from the removal and recovery of precious heavy metal species from industrial effluents, passive bioremediation technology (PBT) can also be employed for some newer type of wastes and products that have emerged in the recent times.

A novel approach of combined biosorption-biodegradation processes was used by Patil and Paknikar (1999) for the removal and recovery of copper- and nickel-cyanide from electroplat‐ ing effluents. *Cladosporium cladosporioides* biomass was found to be highly efficient sorbent in this case. The unrecoverable (residual) metal-cyanides after biosorption was subjected to biodegradation process using bacterial consortium. The treated effluent was free of cyanide and metals and complied with the statutory limits (Patil and Paknikar, 1999).

The problem of waste photovoltaic cells was addressed by Paknikar et al (1997) by way of recovering and recycling of expensive metals like silver, cadmium and tellurium. In this study, the researchers used scrapings of waste photovoltaic cells, which were dissolved in suitable mineral acid and was diluted to obtain desired metal concentration. The metal solution was then subjected to biosorption column consisting of inactive granulated biomass of *C. clado‐ sporioides* #1 for selective removal of silver. Similarly, in the next step, cadmium was removed by biosorption process by passing the solution through biosorbent column. The silver and cadmium free solution after treatment was then fed to tellurium reducing bioreactor consisting *P. mendocina*. The overall removal and recovery efficiency of these metals was >90%. With the rising demand and shift towards renewable energy sources, the number of photovoltaic cells producing units/industries will increase in the years to come; and so the use of non-renewable resources like metals and it wastages in the form of rejections. Although the economic feasibility of the process was not studied by the researchers) but the study certainly add to the advancement of knowledge by employing combined passive and active bioremediaton (Paknikar et al 1997).

minimization and will help profitability of business community at large. It has not escaped through authors mind that the recovered resource from the waste of one industry has all the potential for its use as an input material for other industry thereby strengthening the emerging

Resource Recovery from Industrial Effluents Containing Precious Metal Species Using Low-Cost Biomaterials…

Dr. Yogesh Patil gratefully acknowledges the International Foundation for Science (IFS), Stockholm, Sweden, in cooperation with The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical

1 Symbiosis Institute of Technology (SIT), Symbiosis International University (SIU), Near

2 Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB), Symbiosis International University

3 Symbiosis Institute of Research and Innovation (SIRI), Symbiosis International University

[1] Aksu Z (2001) Equilibrium and kinetics modeling of cadmium (II) biosorption by *C. vulgaris* in a batch system: effect of temperature. *Separation and Purification Technology*

[2] APHA, AWWA, WEF (1998) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater Analysis, 20th Ed. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC.

[3] Azab HM, El-Shora HM and Mohammed HA (1995) Biosorption of cyanide from in‐

[4] Basha S, Murthy ZVP and Jha B (2008) Biosorption of hexavalent chromium by chem‐ ically modified seaweed, *Cystoseira indica*. *Chemical Engineering Journal* 137:480-488.

, Ketaki Barve2

, Shilpa Kulkarni2

,

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/56965

279

Weapons (OPCW), The Hague, The Netherlands, for providing the research grant.

, Jayati Chourey2

(SIU), Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Hinjewadi, Pune, Maharashtra, India

dustrial waste water. *Al-Azhar Bulletin of Science* 6:311-323.

discipline of 'Industrial Ecology'.

, Viraja Bhat2

and Yogesh Patil3\*

Lupin Research Park, Lavale, Pune, India

(SIU), Lavale, Pune, Maharashtra, India

\*Address all correspondence to: head\_respub@siu.edu.in

**Acknowledgements**

**Author details**

Nilisha Itankar1

Prakash Rao2

**References**

21:285-294.

Pethkar et al. (2001) reported an interesting study on the removal of toxic metals like lead and cadmium from fruit juices of carrot, grapes and oranges, and extracts of Jatamansi herb and raisin by passive bioremediation using the biomass of *C. cladosporioides* #2. With a growth rate of 15%, the annual turnover of herbal medicinal industry in India is Rs. 75,000 million. As per ASSOCHAM (Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry), the turnover of herbal industry is projected to double to Rs.1,50,000 million (USD 3 billion) by 2015. However, the business is getting severely affected by the presence of toxic heavy metals into food and herbal products thereby making them unacceptable in foreign markets because of their stringent statutory norms. Therefore, removal of these toxic metals from such products using biosorp‐ tion process is crucial and has great prospectus. Sun et al (2007) had reported sorption of heavy metal ions by polyaspartyl polymers from Chinese herbal medicines. However, there is paucity of literature on biosorption of toxic metals from herbal medicines and food products.

Bhat et al (2012) had proposed a novel integrated model for the recovery of gold/silver from e-waste using an integrated hydrometallurgical (chemical) and biometallurgical (low cost biomass) processes. Feasibility study was conducted to explore the possibility of removal/ recovery of silver-cyanide using low-cost biosorbents. *Eicchornia* root biomass and Waste tea powder were found to be an efficient low-cost biosorbents for leached silver-cyanide from electronic scrap. The concentrated silver-cyanide recovered had the potential for its further use as input material for electroplating industry (Bhat et al, 2012). Awareness among the urban population regarding disposal and management e-waste has also been studied by Bhat and Patil (2012).

In the twenty-first century, entire world is witnessing a paradigm shift in the overall waste management practices, which is rapidly changing its face and orientation. Waste is no more considered as waste but is recognized as a 'Resource'. This lost resource could potentially be recovered from the wastes using suitable strategies and technologies. Therefore, in a real sense, model like recovery and recycling of waste resource is gaining remarkable importance in today's so called 'Technological Society'. Application of concepts similar to this work will ultimately reduce the demand for natural resources thereby extending its sustenance. In view of this, the present chapter on passive bioremediation will certainly add to the advancement of knowledge in the field of resource recovery and industrial pollution management, waste minimization and will help profitability of business community at large. It has not escaped through authors mind that the recovered resource from the waste of one industry has all the potential for its use as an input material for other industry thereby strengthening the emerging discipline of 'Industrial Ecology'.
