Bioleaching of heavy metals from sludge after biological treatment of municipal effluent

The article has compared the efficiency of removing heavy metals from the sludge after biological treatment of municipal wastewaters in the course of biological leaching involving heterotrophic and chemotrophic microorganisms and chemical leaching. The article also showed advantages of the bioleaching of metals under conditions of acidogenic heterotrophic metabolism. The efficiency of the leaching of heavy metals from the sludge varies 80% (Zn) to 15% (Cr) and corresponds to the following series: Zn > Mn > Cu > Ni > Cd > Pb > Cr.