Tungsten (W) is present in the waste products of used scrap metal. The recovery of W from urban mines has become increasingly warranted because of the growing demand for W in the manufacturing of advanced materials and for use within key industries (e.g., the automotive industry). In this study, processes involving the biosorption of W from urban mines by microbes, (e.g., Escherichia col' and beer yeast) were evaluated for their adoptability as an environmentally friendly recycling process. Selective biosorption of W and molybdenum (Mo) ions from multicomponent metal solutions containing W, Mo, and vanadium(V) ions was successfully achieved by controlling the concentration of both cells (2.58 X 10(8) cells/mL) and the solution pH (1.4). These biosorption tests were also applied to a real: waste solution composed of used scrap comprising tungsten carbide (WC). It was shown that E.,coli cells and beer yeast successfully and preferentially adsorbed the W ion from the real waste solution. To confirm the feasibility of the biosorption process to practicalapplications, the recycling of WC tips from real waste products was demonstrated using-beer yeast biosorption methods. The required costs, equipment (e.g., tanks), and-facilities for application of the biosorption process were also evaluated.