Biotechnological Initiatives in E-waste Management: Recycling and Business Opportunities

With the rapid development of economy, the lifespan of electronic products has been shortened, leading to the generation of more and more electronic waste (E-waste). E-waste that is composed of metals and metalloids has been paid much attention by researchers from all over the world. Methods including physical, chemical, and biological technologies are adopted to dispose of E-waste. Considering energy consumption and environmentally friendly advantages, biological methods are regarded as the most suitable technology for disposing of E-waste. This chapter discusses the generation of E-waste in the world, the introduction of multiple technologies in disposing E-waste, especially the biological method, and the specific applications of the biological method in E-waste, which using microorganisms to extract precious metals, heavy metals, and metalloids. The mechanisms and influencing factors of the biological method are introduced. An example of the biological method in recycling of E-waste is also investigated. The applications of biological method in E-waste relevant areas are also discussed. Finally, the prospects for applications of the biological method for E-waste are also highlighted.