Studio e realizzazione di un impianto prototipale basato sull'impiego di microorganismi per la rimozione ed il recupero dei metalli pesanti dalle acque reflue dell'industria galvanica

The purpose of this project is to study the ability of microbial strains to adsorb heavy metals with a view to their use in novel processes for the treatment of industrial waters polluted by heavy metals such as copper, chromium and nickel .



The project will make particular reference to the galvanic processing , affecting many areas typical of Made in Italy (automotive , avionics , electronics, fashion , furniture , construction , mechanics) , as the electroplating industry is now one of the most important and the most widespread , especially in the Region of Lombardy , and national level , being used as galvanic processes or auxiliary fundamental operation in a large number of mechanical production , both industrial and artisanal .



For the removal of heavy metals from wastewater , currently in the galvanic processes employed are of a chemical nature or physical-chemical and provide for the removal of chemical species present using suitable products , or their recovery by concentration through evaporation. Therefore the purification process , involves the use of toxic chemicals or harmful and , in the case of evaporation , a very high energy consumption , which often makes the process impractical in economic terms.



The possibility of using microorganisms to capture the metals present in solution has been demonstrated in numerous scientific studies . Among the numerous microbial groups tested , some chemoheterotrofic bacteria isolated from environments contaminated by heavy metals have shown interesting properties of bioremoval. The search for new strains is addressed to environments contaminated with metals because the microorganisms that have developed over time have obviously developed defense processes from their toxic effect that may be useful in their application for removal of metals from wastewater.



This project is the basis for developing an innovative technology that, using chemo heterotrophic bacteria, allows to remove the heavy metals contained in waste water from galvanic industries and to recover the microbial biomass, leading to profitable metal recovery, abatement of energy and environmental costs of purification and reuse of water for the processes (productive or not), once filtered bacteria, with a more rational use of water resources.