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Purpose of Review <p>This review explores the emerging role of electro-fermentation (EF) and its engineering as an advanced bioelectrochemical process for heavy metals removal and recovery from mining wastewater, including acid mine drainage (AMD), tailings effluents, and metal-rich industrial discharges. It specifically communicates recent advancements in electro-fermentation mechanisms, reactor configurations, microbial electron transfer pathways, and integration methods for sustainable mining wastewater remediation.</p> Research Findings <p>Recent studies indicate that EF engineering improves heavy metal removal via electro-assisted microbial reduction, cathodic metal deposition, sulfide-mediated precipitation, biosorption, and bioaccumulation. These processes are facilitated by extracellular electron transfer (EET), which governs electron exchange between microorganisms and electrodes or other electron acceptors. EET can occur through both direct electron transfer (DET) and indirect/mediated electron transfer (IET/MET) pathways, or may also involve direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) in microbial consortia. The removal efficiency can be up to 80–99% for Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Sb (in elemental or mineral form). Conductive materials (e.g., biochar, graphite, graphene) improve electron transfer efficiency, microbial resilience, and process stability under metal stress. Nonetheless, performance is negatively impacted by electrode biofouling, metal toxicity to microbial communities, insufficient organic carbon in mining effluent, energy optimization challenges, and drawbacks in scaling up.</p> Summary <p>EF and its engineering are a prospective, low-chemical, and circular-economy-oriented technology for mining wastewater treatment. Advancements in electrode material innovation, microbial community engineering, process intensification, real-time electrochemical control, and pilot-scale validation will be attractive and crucial for accelerating commercialization and deployment in mining operations.</p>

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Electro-fermentation and its Engineering for Heavy Metal Removal From Mining Wastewater: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月27日

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  • Ibnu Maulana Hidayatullah,
  • Soen Steven,
  • Adi Kusmayadi,
  • Adrian Oehmen,
  • Ramaraj Boopathy,
  • Nadia Adelia Salsabila Putri,
  • Dawud Shibghotulloh,
  • Christian Aslan

摘要

Purpose of Review

This review explores the emerging role of electro-fermentation (EF) and its engineering as an advanced bioelectrochemical process for heavy metals removal and recovery from mining wastewater, including acid mine drainage (AMD), tailings effluents, and metal-rich industrial discharges. It specifically communicates recent advancements in electro-fermentation mechanisms, reactor configurations, microbial electron transfer pathways, and integration methods for sustainable mining wastewater remediation.

Research Findings

Recent studies indicate that EF engineering improves heavy metal removal via electro-assisted microbial reduction, cathodic metal deposition, sulfide-mediated precipitation, biosorption, and bioaccumulation. These processes are facilitated by extracellular electron transfer (EET), which governs electron exchange between microorganisms and electrodes or other electron acceptors. EET can occur through both direct electron transfer (DET) and indirect/mediated electron transfer (IET/MET) pathways, or may also involve direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) in microbial consortia. The removal efficiency can be up to 80–99% for Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Sb (in elemental or mineral form). Conductive materials (e.g., biochar, graphite, graphene) improve electron transfer efficiency, microbial resilience, and process stability under metal stress. Nonetheless, performance is negatively impacted by electrode biofouling, metal toxicity to microbial communities, insufficient organic carbon in mining effluent, energy optimization challenges, and drawbacks in scaling up.

Summary

EF and its engineering are a prospective, low-chemical, and circular-economy-oriented technology for mining wastewater treatment. Advancements in electrode material innovation, microbial community engineering, process intensification, real-time electrochemical control, and pilot-scale validation will be attractive and crucial for accelerating commercialization and deployment in mining operations.