Novel magnetite-biocomposites for clean-up of highly diluted Ga and As containing industrial wastewaters

Gallium is an essential element in many semi-conducting products, electronic devices and opto-electronic components. It is mostly applied as GaAs and GaN. Despite it’s growing demand it is currently not recycled. The development of novel biocomposites based on magnetite and biopolymers for the selective binding of Ga and As from diluted flushing solutions of the semi-conducting industry offers a promising concept for the efficient, economical and sustainable recycling of these metal(loids).

In this study several magnetite based-biocomposites for an efficient and easy separation in magnetic field were developed and optimized regarding an effective sorption behavior for Ga and As from complex but highly diluted industrial wastewaters (each 4 mg/L, pH 8.4). Combinations of magnetite nanoparticles and S-layer proteins removed up to 100% of both elements depending on the used amount of material. Additionally, the S-layer-magnetite-composites showed a better stability compared to pure magnetite during the sorption process. The materials showed a preferred sorption of Ga compared to As. An optimization of (selective) sorption and stability of the materials was achieved by addition of a second biomolecule (bovine serum albumin, phosvitin, chitosan) to S-layer-magnetite-composites. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy with electron diffraction of the biocomposites revealed pure magnetite particles with size between 5-10 nm surrounded by the biocomponent. The zeta-potential of the biocomposites is negative which favors the binding of Ga3+ compared to negatively charged As species. Sustainability of the biocomposites is given as bound Ga and As could be completely removed from the composites with EDTA, so that the biocomposites could be reused for several sorption-desorption cycles.

In conclusion, these regenerative materials enable an efficient and selective removal of gallium and arsenic from highly diluted industrial wastewaters. The combination of magnetite with biomolecules provides a promising approach to improve metal recycling and contribute to environmentally friendly and sustainable processes.