Sulfate is often touted as containing atmospheric oxygen whose isotopic signature can constrain redox, environmental conditions, and biological activi…

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Associate professor Andrew Palmer is working with researchers at Winston-Salem State University to explore bioleaching in space crop growth.

BacTech Environmental Files Provisional Patent of Zero-Waste Tech Beyond Bioleaching  Junior Mining Network

BacTech Environmental Files Provisional Patent of Zero-Waste Tech Beyond Bioleaching  TradingView

Using insights from whole-genome screening, the mineral-dissolving microbe Gluconobacter oxydans was engineered by deleting the pstS gene and overexpressing mgdh, creating a strain that improves rare…

Bioleaching has attracted more attention among researchers for Rare Earth Elements (REEs) extraction by using microorganisms as the means to initiate …

Metals in brownfield land can harm pollinators when wildflowers bloom there, say researchers.

Acidithiobacillus spp. have traditionally been utilized to extract metals from mineral ores through bioleaching. This process has recently expanded to include artificial ores, such as those derived from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) residues. Previous studies have indicated that microbial adaptation enhances bioleaching efficiency, prompting this study to identify proteins involved in the adaptation of A. ferridurans to MSWI residues. We employed data-independent acquisition-parallel accumulation serial fragmentation to determine the proteomic response of A. ferridurans DSM 583 to three distinct materials: bottom ash (BA), kettle ash (KA), and filter ash (FA), which represent typical MSWI residues. Our findings indicate that, irrespective of the residue type, a suite of membrane transporters, porins, efflux pumps, and specific electron and cation transfer proteins was notably upregulated. The upregulation of certain proteins involved in anaerobic pathways suggested the development of a spontaneous microaerobic environment, which minimally impacted the bioleaching efficiency. Additionally, the adaptation was most efficient at half the target FA concentration, marked by a significant increase in the detoxification and efflux systems required by microorganisms to tolerate high heavy metal concentrations. Given that metal recovery peaked at lower FA concentrations for most metals of interest, further adaptation at the level of protein expression may not be warranted for improved bioleaching outcomes.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical for modern technologies but are rarely recycled, with less than 1% recovered from waste products. Yttrium, a key component in fluorescent lamps and light emitting diodes, poses particular recycling challenges despite its high concentration in such materials. Here, we present an innovative bioleaching approach for yttrium recovery using the fermented tea beverage Kombucha in the context of science communication and outreach. Kombucha contains organic acid producing microorganisms, which can mobilize yttrium from a model phosphor mixture. In this experiment, high school students prepare Kombucha, mix it with phosphor powder, and allow bioleaching to occur over 7 to 14 days. The dissolved yttrium is then precipitated as yttrium oxalate using oxalic acid and thermally converted back to yttrium oxide. Yields of yttrium oxide ranged from 7% to 13%, depending on the maturity of the Kombucha culture and the experimental conditions. This model experiment enables students to understand bioleaching as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical extraction, illustrating its advantages such as reduced environmental impact and energy use. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of bioleaching to improve the recycling of critical materials such as yttrium, aligning with circular economy goals.

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ALT: a little girl is holding her fist in the air with the words " can 't wait " on the bottom