Biometallurgical recovery of critical metals in extreme environments
Abstract
The U.S. reliance on foreign imports of strategically important metals poses a threat to the Nation s economic prosperity and defense. At least 44 of the 118 elements in the periodic table face supply limitations and are considered ÒendangeredÓ. Particularly vulnerable is the supply for cobalt (Co) and rare earth elements (REEs), which are essential components of rechargeable batteries, superalloys, high-strength magnets, precision-guided missiles, and communication devices, to name but a few applications relevant to Army operations. Foreign control of mining, processing and separation of these and other critical metals threatens the national supply. Foreign reliance could be alleviated with cost-effective technologies for the extraction of these metals from national mineral resources and/or from renewable sources such as electronic waste (e-waste). Given the accumulation of critical metals Co and REEs in ferromanganese sediments around marine hydrothermal vents, we propose to tap into the microbial diversity that cycles these critical metals in hydrothermal systems under extremes of temperature (up to 150oC) and metal toxicity. Using a thermophilic model metal reducer, we will apply in vitro and in vivo tools developed by the team to engineer bioplatforms for selective mining and reclamation of critical metals. The proposed study will provide fundamental insights into the cycling of critical metals in hydrothermal environments and the diversity and ecology of electric microbes that produce protein nanowires to reductively precipitate toxic metals. This knowledge is critical to advance cost-effective technologies for the biometallurgical recovery of critical metals from hot streams recovered during the processing of national mineral ores or e-waste. The studies will be led by PI Reguera, an expert in microbial nanowires and metal mineralization in moderate environments, and co-PI Kashefi, an expert in extremophilic metal reducers. The complementary expertise of the PIs and extensive record of collaboration will ensure successful completion of the proposed research in three years.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 12, 2022
- Source ID
- W911NF2210297
Entities
People
- Gemma Reguera
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Michigan State University
- United States Army