Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo

PhD Overview

In gold extraction from refractory gold ores (RGO), pretreatment methods involving heat, pressure, and strong chemicals are essential for releasing gold from complex materials. However, these methods present operational and environmental challenges. While multiple-stage microbial processes have been explored with varying degrees of success, my research introduced mycohydrometallurgy into literature, demonstrating how the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium transforms complex materials in a single stage. My groundbreaking findings have significantly enhanced gold recovery from RGO and opened new avenues for advancing research in this field.