Mineral solubility, metal-citrate complexation

Brookhaven National Laboratory s (BNL s) biochemical recovery of radionuclides and heavy metals is a patented biochemical recovery process for the removal of metals and radionuclides from contaminated minerals, soil, and waste sites. In this process, citric acid, a naturally occurring organic complexing agent, is used to extract metals and radionuclides from solid wastes by the formation of water-soluble, metal-citrate complexes. The complex-rich extract is then subjected to microbiological biodegradation that removes most of the extracted heavy metals. 

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