Biosorption of scandium and yttrium from solutions

Biosorbents have proven highly effective in extracting scandium and yttrium from solution. Biosorbents are capable of separating Sc and Y from each other and from iron, aluminum, titanium, silicon, and calcium in the ores and wastes processed by hydrometallurgical operations. Increasing the pH of the treatment solution results in an increase in the sorption of Sc and Y. The biomass type exerted a measurable influence on the initial rate of Sc sorption. Most of the types of biomass that were tested were able to sorb 85-98% of the Sc within 10-30 minutes. The sorption of both Sc and Y was strongly inhibited by the presence of aluminum, iron(III), and titanium in the solution. The sorption rates achieved using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus terreus are detailed.