Bioleaching of Arsenic and Antimony from Mining Waste

Abstract

This paper is a contribution to quantification of bio-leached arsenic and antimony from mining waste collected from impoundment in Slovinky (Slovakia). Autochtonous fungal strain Aspergillus niger was used in all bioleaching experiments. The contents of arsenic and antimony in two different samples from the impoundment were 294.7 and 328.2 mg.kg -1 As and 225.3 and 285.7 mg.kg -1 Sb, respectively. After 21-day cultivation of Aspergillus niger on such contaminated substrates, this strain was capable to bioleach, bioaccumulate and biovolatilize both toxic elements.