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Vo PHN, Kuzhiumparambil U, Kim M, Hinkley C, Pernice M, Nghiem LD, Ralph PJ. Biomining using microalgae to recover rare earth elements (REEs) from bauxite. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 406:131077. [PMID: 38971386 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Biomining using microalgae has emerged as a sustainable option to extract rare earth elements (REEs). This study aims to (i) explore the capability of REEs recovery from bauxite by microalgae, (ii) assess the change of biochemical function affected by bauxite, and (iii) investigate the effects of operating conditions (i.e., aeration rate, pH, hydraulic retention time) to REEs recovery. The results showed that increasing bauxite in microalgae culture increases REEs recovery in biomass and production of biochemical compounds (e.g., pigments and Ca-Mg ATPase enzyme) up to 10 %. The optimum pulp ratio of bauxite in the microalgae culture ranges from 0.2 % to 0.6 %. Chlorella vulgaris was the most promising, with two times higher in REEs recovery in biomass than the other species. REEs accumulated in microalgae biomass decreased with increasing pH in the culture. This study establishes a platform to make the scaling up of REEs biomining by microalgae plausible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phong H N Vo
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | | | - Mikael Kim
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Cora Hinkley
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Mathieu Pernice
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Long D Nghiem
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Peter J Ralph
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
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Viana T, Colónia J, Tavares DS, Pinto J, Ferreira N, Jacinto J, Pereira E, Henriques B. Optimizing the Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Spent Fluorescent Lamps by Living Ulva sp. ACS SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 2024; 1:1464-1474. [PMID: 39081539 PMCID: PMC11285805 DOI: 10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Given the significant industrial applications of rare earth elements (REEs), supply chain constraints, and negative environmental impacts associated with their extraction, finding alternative sources has become a critical challenge. Previously, we highlighted the potential of living Ulva sp. in the removal and pre-concentration of Y from a solution obtained by sequential acid leaching of spent fluorescent lamps (SFLs). Here, we extended that study to other REEs extracted from SFLs and evaluated the effect of pH (4.5-9.0), light exposure (absence, natural and supplemented with artificial light), and Hg (presence and absence). The results showed small differences in the removal of Y (23-30%) and other REEs at the different pH values, opening the scope of the methodology. However, Ulva sp. relative growth rate (RGR) was negatively affected in the higher acidity condition, without any visible signs of decay. In the absence of light, the RGR also decreased, which was accompanied by a halving of the removal efficiency compared to that with artificial light supplementation (40% for Y). Although Hg had minimal influence on the removal and concentration of REEs by Ulva sp., its presence in the enriched biomass is undesirable. Therefore, this contaminant was selectively removed from the solution using Fe3O4@SiO2/SiDTC nanoparticles before contact with the macroalgae (70% removal in 30 min; 99% in 72 h). In addition to easy solubilization, macroalgae enriched with REEs have a simpler composition compared to SFLs. Calcination of the biomass allowed the REEs to be further concentrated, with concentrations (130 mg/g for Y) up to 240 times higher than in typical apatite ore. This highlights enriched biomass as a sustainable alternative to traditional mining for obtaining these critical raw materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thainara Viana
- LAQV-REQUIMTE
− Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Department of
Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João Colónia
- LAQV-REQUIMTE
− Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Department of
Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Daniela S. Tavares
- LAQV-REQUIMTE
− Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Department of
Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João Pinto
- LAQV-REQUIMTE
− Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Department of
Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Nicole Ferreira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE
− Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Department of
Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- CICECO
− Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jéssica Jacinto
- LAQV-REQUIMTE
− Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Department of
Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE
− Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Department of
Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bruno Henriques
- LAQV-REQUIMTE
− Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Department of
Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Vítová M, Mezricky D. Microbial recovery of rare earth elements from various waste sources: a mini review with emphasis on microalgae. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:189. [PMID: 38702568 PMCID: PMC11068686 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03974-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are indispensable in contemporary technologies, influencing various aspects of our daily lives and environmental solutions. The escalating demand for REEs has led to increased exploitation, resulting in the generation of diverse REE-bearing solid and liquid wastes. Recognizing the potential of these wastes as secondary sources of REEs, researchers are exploring microbial solutions for their recovery. This mini review provides insights into the utilization of microorganisms, with a particular focus on microalgae, for recovering REEs from sources such as ores, electronic waste, and industrial effluents. The review outlines the principles and distinctions of bioleaching, biosorption, and bioaccumulation, offering a comparative analysis of their potential and limitations. Specific examples of microorganisms demonstrating efficacy in REE recovery are highlighted, accompanied by successful methods, including advanced techniques for enhancing microbial strains to achieve higher REE recovery. Moreover, the review explores the environmental implications of bio-recovery, discussing the potential of these methods to mitigate REE pollution. By emphasizing microalgae as promising biotechnological candidates for REE recovery, this mini review not only presents current advances but also illuminates prospects in sustainable REE resource management and environmental remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milada Vítová
- Department of Phycology, Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia.
| | - Dana Mezricky
- Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, IMC Krems, Krems, Austria
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Song X, Liu BF, Kong F, Song Q, Ren NQ, Ren HY. New insights into rare earth element-induced microalgae lipid accumulation: Implication for biodiesel production and adsorption mechanism. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 251:121134. [PMID: 38244297 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
A coupling technology for lipid production and adsorption of rare earth elements (REEs) using microalgae was studied in this work. The microalgae cell growth, lipid production, biochemical parameters and lipid profiles were investigated under different REEs (Ce3+, Gd3+and La3+). The results showed that the maximum lipid production was achieved at different concentrations of REEs, with lipid productivities of 300.44, 386.84 and 292.19 mg L-1 d-1 under treatment conditions of 100 μg L-1 Ce3+, 250 μg L-1 Gd3+ and 1 mg L-1 La3+, respectively. Moreover, the adsorption efficiency of Ce3+, Gd3+ and La3+exceeded 96.58 %, 93.06 % and 91.3 % at concentrations of 25-1000 μg L-1, 100-500 μg L-1 and 0.25-1 mg L-1, respectively. In addition, algal cells were able to adsorb 66.2 % of 100 μg L-1 Ce3+, 48.4 % of 250 μg L-1 Gd3+ and 59.9 % of 1 mg L-1 La3+. The combination of extracellular polysaccharide and algal cell wall could adsorb 25.2 % of 100 μg L-1 Ce3+, 44.5 % of 250 μg L-1 Gd3+ and 30.5 % of 1 mg L-1 La3+, respectively. These findings indicated that microalgae predominantly adsorbed REEs through the intracellular pathway. This study elucidates the mechanism of effective lipid accumulation and adsorption of REEs by microalgae under REEs stress conditions. It establishes a theoretical foundation for the efficient microalgae lipid production and REEs recovery from wastewater or waste residues containing REEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Song
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Bing-Feng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Fanying Kong
- School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Qingqing Song
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Hong-Yu Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
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Danouche M, Bounaga A, Oulkhir A, Boulif R, Zeroual Y, Benhida R, Lyamlouli K. Advances in bio/chemical approaches for sustainable recycling and recovery of rare earth elements from secondary resources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168811. [PMID: 38030017 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are indispensable in the growing smart technologies, such as smart phones and electronic devices, renewable energy, new generation of hybrid cars, etc. These elements are naturally occurring in specific geological deposits (bastnäsite, monazite, and xenotime), primarily concentrated in the regions of China, Australia, and the USA. The extraction and processing of REEs and the mismanagement of secondary REE resources, such as industrial waste, end-of-life materials, and mining by-products, raise major environmental and health concerns. Recycling represents a convincing solution, avoiding the necessity to separate low-value or coexisting radioactive elements when REEs are recovered from raw ore. Despite these advantages, only 1 % of REEs are usually recycled. This review overreached strategies for recycling REEs from secondary resources, emphasizing their pivotal role. The predominant approach for recycling REEs involves hydrometallurgical processing by leaching REEs from their origins using acidic solutions and then separating them from dissolved impurities using techniques like liquid-liquid extraction, membrane separation, chromatography, adsorption, flotation, and electrochemical methods. However, these methods have notable disadvantages, particularly their over requirements for water, reagents, and energy. Biohydrometallurgy introduces an innovative alternative using microorganisms and their metabolites to extract REEs through bioleaching. Other investigations are carried out to recover REEs through biological strategies, including biosorption, affinity chromatography with biological ligands, bioflotation employing biological surfactants, and bioelectrochemical methods. However, biohydrometallurgical processes can also be relatively slow and less suitable for large-scale applications, often lacking specificity for targeted REEs recovery. Overcoming these challenges necessitates ongoing research and development efforts to advance recycling technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Danouche
- Department of Chemical & Biochemical Sciences-Green Process Engineering (CBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
| | - A Bounaga
- Department of Chemical & Biochemical Sciences-Green Process Engineering (CBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
| | - A Oulkhir
- Department of Chemical & Biochemical Sciences-Green Process Engineering (CBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco; Institute of Chemistry, Nice UMR7272, Côte d'Azur University, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Nice, France
| | - R Boulif
- Department of Chemical & Biochemical Sciences-Green Process Engineering (CBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
| | - Y Zeroual
- Situation Innovation, OCP Group BP 118, Jorf Lasfar, El Jadida 24000, Morocco
| | - R Benhida
- Department of Chemical & Biochemical Sciences-Green Process Engineering (CBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco; Institute of Chemistry, Nice UMR7272, Côte d'Azur University, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Nice, France.
| | - K Lyamlouli
- College of Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, AgroBioScience Department, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
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Behrsing T, Blair VL, Jaroschik F, Deacon GB, Junk PC. Rare Earths-The Answer to Everything. Molecules 2024; 29:688. [PMID: 38338432 PMCID: PMC10856286 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29030688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Rare earths, scandium, yttrium, and the fifteen lanthanoids from lanthanum to lutetium, are classified as critical metals because of their ubiquity in daily life. They are present in magnets in cars, especially electric cars; green electricity generating systems and computers; in steel manufacturing; in glass and light emission materials especially for safety lighting and lasers; in exhaust emission catalysts and supports; catalysts in artificial rubber production; in agriculture and animal husbandry; in health and especially cancer diagnosis and treatment; and in a variety of materials and electronic products essential to modern living. They have the potential to replace toxic chromates for corrosion inhibition, in magnetic refrigeration, a variety of new materials, and their role in agriculture may expand. This review examines their role in sustainability, the environment, recycling, corrosion inhibition, crop production, animal feedstocks, catalysis, health, and materials, as well as considering future uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Behrsing
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; (T.B.); (V.L.B.); (G.B.D.)
| | - Victoria L. Blair
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; (T.B.); (V.L.B.); (G.B.D.)
| | | | - Glen B. Deacon
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; (T.B.); (V.L.B.); (G.B.D.)
| | - Peter C. Junk
- College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Ning Z, Dong W, Bian Z, Huang H, Hong K. Insight into effects of terbium on cell growth, sporulation and spore properties of Bacillus subtilis. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:79. [PMID: 38281285 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03904-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from wastewater with Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) during culture is promising due to its environmental benefits. However, the effects of REEs in the culture media on B. subtilis are poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the effects of the terbium (Tb(III)), a typical rare earth element, on the cell growth, sporulation, and spore properties of B. subtilis. Tb(III) can suppress bacterial growth while enhancing spore tolerance to wet heat. Spore germination and content of dipicolinic acid (DPA) were promoted at low concentrations of Tb(III) while inhibited at a high level, but an inverse effect on initial sporulation appeared. Scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer detection indicated that Tb(III) complexed cells or spores and certain media components simultaneously. The germination results of the spores after elution revealed that Tb(III) attached to the spore surface was a key effector of spore germination. In conclusion, Tb(III) directly or indirectly regulated both the nutrient status of the media and certain metabolic events, which in turn affected most of the properties of B. subtilis. Compared to the coat-deficient strain, the wild-type strain grew faster and was more tolerant to Tb(III), DPA, and wet heat, which in turn implied that it was more suitable for the recovery of REEs during cultivation. These findings provide fundamental insights for the recovery of rare earths during the culture process using microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhoushen Ning
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control in Mining and Metallurgy, Ganzhou, 341000, China
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control in Mining and Metallurgy, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
- Yichun Lithium New Energy Industry Research Institute, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Yichun, 336023, China.
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
| | - Zijun Bian
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control in Mining and Metallurgy, Ganzhou, 341000, China
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Huihong Huang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Kemin Hong
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China
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Vo PHN, Danaee S, Hai HTN, Huy LN, Nguyen TAH, Nguyen HTM, Kuzhiumparambil U, Kim M, Nghiem LD, Ralph PJ. Biomining for sustainable recovery of rare earth elements from mining waste: A comprehensive review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168210. [PMID: 37924876 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential for advanced manufacturing (e.g., renewable energy, military equipment, electric vehicles); hence, the recovery of REEs from low-grade resources has become increasingly important to address their growing demand. Depending on specific mining sites, its geological conditions, and sociodemographic backgrounds, mining waste has been identified as a source of REEs in various concentrations and abundance. Yttrium, cerium, and neodymium are the most common REEs in mining waste streams (50 to 300 μg/L). Biomining has emerged as a viable option for REEs recovery due to its reduced environmental impact, along with reduced capital investment compared to traditional recovery methods. This paper aims to review (i) the characteristics of mining waste as a low-grade REEs resource, (ii) the key operating principles of biomining technologies for REEs recovery, (iii) the effects of operating conditions and matrix on REEs recovery, and (iv) the sustainability of REEs recovery through biomining technologies. Six types of biomining will be examined in this review: bioleaching, bioweathering, biosorption, bioaccumulation, bioprecipitation and bioflotation. Based on a SWOT analyses and techno-economic assessments (TEA), biomining technologies have been found to be effective and efficient in recovering REEs from low-grade sources. Through TEA, coal ash has been shown to return the highest profit amongst mining waste streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phong H N Vo
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Soroosh Danaee
- Biotechnology Department, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran 3353-5111, Iran
| | - Ho Truong Nam Hai
- Faculty of Environment, University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Lai Nguyen Huy
- Environmental Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Klongluang, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Tuan A H Nguyen
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Hong T M Nguyen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Unnikrishnan Kuzhiumparambil
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Mikael Kim
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Long D Nghiem
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Peter J Ralph
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
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Zinicovscaia I, Cepoi L, Rudi L, Chiriac T, Grozdov D. Evaluation of Holmium(III), Erbium(III), and Gadolinium(III) Accumulation by Cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis Using Neutron Activation Analysis and Elements' Effects on Biomass Quantity and Biochemical Composition. Microorganisms 2024; 12:122. [PMID: 38257949 PMCID: PMC10818318 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Rare-earth elements are released into the aquatic environment as a result of their extensive use in industry and agriculture, and they can be harmful for living organisms. The effects of holmium(III), erbium(III), and gadolinium(III) when added to a growth medium in concentrations ranging from 10 to 30 mg/L on the accumulation ability and biochemical composition of Arthrospira platensis were studied. According to the results of a neutron activation analysis, the uptake of elements by cyanobacteria occurred in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of gadolinium(III) to the growth medium did not significantly affect the amount of biomass, whereas erbium(III) and holmium(III) reduced it up to 22% compared to the control. The effects of rare-earth elements on the content of proteins, carbohydrates, phycobiliproteins, lipids, β carotene, and chlorophyll a were evaluated. The studied elements had different effects on the primary biomolecule content, suggesting that holmium(III) and erbium(III) were more toxic than Gd(III) for Arthrospira platensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Zinicovscaia
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie Str., 141980 Dubna, Russia;
- Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Str., 077125 Măgurele, Romania
| | - Liliana Cepoi
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Technical University of Moldova, 1 Academiei Str., 2028 Chisinau, Moldova; (L.C.); (L.R.); (T.C.)
| | - Ludmila Rudi
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Technical University of Moldova, 1 Academiei Str., 2028 Chisinau, Moldova; (L.C.); (L.R.); (T.C.)
| | - Tatiana Chiriac
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Technical University of Moldova, 1 Academiei Str., 2028 Chisinau, Moldova; (L.C.); (L.R.); (T.C.)
| | - Dmitrii Grozdov
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie Str., 141980 Dubna, Russia;
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Paper M, Jung P, Koch M, Lakatos M, Nilges T, Brück TB. Stripped: contribution of cyanobacterial extracellular polymeric substances to the adsorption of rare earth elements from aqueous solutions. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1299349. [PMID: 38173874 PMCID: PMC10762542 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1299349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The transformation of modern industries towards enhanced sustainability is facilitated by green technologies that rely extensively on rare earth elements (REEs) such as cerium (Ce), neodymium (Nd), terbium (Tb), and lanthanum (La). The occurrence of productive mining sites, e.g., is limited, and production is often costly and environmentally harmful. As a consequence of increased utilization, REEs enter our ecosystem as industrial process water or wastewater and become highly diluted. Once diluted, they can hardly be recovered by conventional techniques, but using cyanobacterial biomass in a biosorption-based process is a promising eco-friendly approach. Cyanobacteria can produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that show high affinity to metal cations. However, the adsorption of REEs by EPS has not been part of extensive research. Thus, we evaluated the role of EPS in the biosorption of Ce, Nd, Tb, and La for three terrestrial, heterocystous cyanobacterial strains. We cultivated them under N-limited and non-limited conditions and extracted their EPS for compositional analyses. Subsequently, we investigated the metal uptake of a) the extracted EPS, b) the biomass extracted from EPS, and c) the intact biomass with EPS by comparing the amount of sorbed REEs. Maximum adsorption capacities for the tested REEs of extracted EPS were 123.9-138.2 mg g-1 for Komarekiella sp. 89.12, 133.1-137.4 mg g-1 for Desmonostoc muscorum 90.03, and 103.5-129.3 mg g-1 for Nostoc sp. 20.02. A comparison of extracted biomass with intact biomass showed that 16% (Komarekiella sp. 89.12), 28% (Desmonostoc muscorum 90.03), and 41% (Nostoc sp. 20.02) of REE adsorption was due to the biosorption of the extracellular EPS. The glucose- rich EPS (15%-43% relative concentration) of all three strains grown under nitrogen-limited conditions showed significantly higher biosorption rates for all REEs. We also found a significantly higher maximum adsorption capacity of all REEs for the extracted EPS compared to cells without EPS and untreated biomass, highlighting the important role of the EPS as a binding site for REEs in the biosorption process. EPS from cyanobacteria could thus be used as efficient biosorbents in future applications for REE recycling, e.g., industrial process water and wastewater streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Paper
- Werner Siemens-Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Patrick Jung
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Max Koch
- Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Michael Lakatos
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Tom Nilges
- Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Thomas B. Brück
- Werner Siemens-Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
- Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, TUM AlgaeTec Center, Ludwig Bölkow Campus, Taufkirchen, Germany
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Zinicovscaia I, Yushin N, Grozdov D, Peshkova A, Vergel K, Rodlovskaya E. The Remediation of Dysprosium-Containing Effluents Using Cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis and Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2009. [PMID: 37630569 PMCID: PMC10458459 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysprosium is one of the most critical rare earth elements for industry and technology. A comparative study was carried out to assess the biosorption capacity of cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae toward dysprosium ions. The effect of experimental parameters such as pH, dysprosium concentration, time of contact, and temperature on the biosorption capacity was evaluated. Biomass before and after dysprosium biosorption was analyzed using neutron activation analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. For both biosorbents, the process was quick and pH-dependent. The maximum removal of dysprosium using Spirulina platensis (50%) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (68%) was attained at pH 3.0 during a one-hour experiment. The adsorption data for both biosorbents fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model, whereas the kinetics of the process followed the pseudo-second-order and Elovich models. The maximum biosorption capacity of Spirulina platensis was 3.24 mg/g, and that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was 5.84 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters showed that dysprosium biosorption was a spontaneous process, exothermic for Saccharomyces cerevisiae and endothermic for Spirulina platensis. Biological sorbents can be considered an eco-friendly alternative to traditional technologies applied for dysprosium ion recovery from wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Zinicovscaia
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Str., MG-6, 077125 Magurele, Romania
| | - Nikita Yushin
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
| | - Dmitrii Grozdov
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
| | - Alexandra Peshkova
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
| | - Konstantin Vergel
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
| | - Elena Rodlovskaya
- N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova Str., 28, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
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Paper M, Koch M, Jung P, Lakatos M, Nilges T, Brück TB. Rare earths stick to rare cyanobacteria: Future potential for bioremediation and recovery of rare earth elements. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1130939. [PMID: 36926689 PMCID: PMC10011134 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1130939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Biosorption of metal ions by phototrophic microorganisms is regarded as a sustainable and alternative method for bioremediation and metal recovery. In this study, 12 cyanobacterial strains, including 7 terrestrial and 5 aquatic cyanobacteria, covering a broad phylogenetic diversity were investigated for their potential application in the enrichment of rare earth elements through biosorption. A screening for the maximum adsorption capacity of cerium, neodymium, terbium, and lanthanum was conducted in which Nostoc sp. 20.02 showed the highest adsorption capacity with 84.2-91.5 mg g-1. Additionally, Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973, Calothrix brevissima SAG 34.79, Desmonostoc muscorum 90.03, and Komarekiella sp. 89.12 were promising candidate strains, with maximum adsorption capacities of 69.5-83.4 mg g-1, 68.6-83.5 mg g-1, 44.7-70.6 mg g-1, and 47.2-67.1 mg g-1 respectively. Experiments with cerium on adsorption properties of the five highest metal adsorbing strains displayed fast adsorption kinetics and a strong influence of the pH value on metal uptake, with an optimum at pH 5 to 6. Studies on binding specificity with mixed-metal solutions strongly indicated an ion-exchange mechanism in which Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ ions are replaced by other metal cations during the biosorption process. Depending on the cyanobacterial strain, FT-IR analysis indicated the involvement different functional groups like hydroxyl and carboxyl groups during the adsorption process. Overall, the application of cyanobacteria as biosorbent in bioremediation and recovery of rare earth elements is a promising method for the development of an industrial process and has to be further optimized and adjusted regarding metal-containing wastewater and adsorption efficiency by cyanobacterial biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Paper
- Werner Siemens-Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Max Koch
- Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Materials, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Patrick Jung
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Michael Lakatos
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Tom Nilges
- Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Materials, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Thomas B Brück
- Werner Siemens-Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,TUM AlgaeTec Center, Ludwig Bölkow Campus, Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, Taufkirchen, Germany
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13
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Biorefining of green macroalgal (Ulva sp.) biomass and its application in the adsorptive recovery of rare earth elements (REEs). Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
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Lewis A, Guéguen C. Using chemometric models to predict the biosorption of low levels of dysprosium by Euglena gracilis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:58936-58949. [PMID: 35377126 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19918-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The critical rare earth element dysprosium (Dy) is integral for sustainable technologies. What is concerning is that Dy is in imminent short supply and no current replacements yet exist, coupled with increasing environmental Dy levels influenced by anthropogenic activities. This study applies chemometric methods such as response surface methodology and artificial neural networks to predict low Dy removal levels using the biosorbent Euglena gracilis. A three-factor Box-Behnken experimental design was conducted with initial concentration (1 to 100 µg L-1), contact time (30 to 180 min), and pH (3 to 8) as the three independent variables, and percentage removal and sorption capacity (q) as dependent variables. Using Dy percentage removal as response, for the worst and best conditions ranged from 0 to 92% respectively, with an average removal of 66 ± 4%. Using sorption capacity (q) as a different response variable, q varied from 0 to 93 µg/g with 27 ± 4 µg/g capacity as average. Maximum removal was 92% (q = 93 µg/g) was at pH 3, a contact time of 105 min and at a concentration of 100 µg/L. Using sorption capacity as the response variable for ANOVA, pH and metal concentrations were statistically significant factors, with lower pH and higher metal concentration having improved Dy removal, with a desirability near 1. Statistical tests such as analysis of variance, lack-of-fit, and coefficient of determination (R2) confirmed model validity. A 3-10-1 ANN network array was used to model experimental responses (q). RSM and ANN effectively modeled Dy biosorption. E. gracilis proved to be a cheap and effective biosorbent for Dy biosorption and has the potential to remediate acid mine drainage areas exhibiting low Dy concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainsely Lewis
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Céline Guéguen
- Département de Chimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
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Dysprosium Absorption of Aluminum Tolerant- and Absorbing-Yeast. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12094352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Background: Biosorption plays important roles in the recovery of rare earth metals. The absorption of dysprosium (Dy) was tested in yeast. Interestingly, brewing yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, showed Dy absorption, and two strains, Alt-OF2 and Alt-OF5—previously isolated as highly aluminum-tolerant and -absorbing yeast strains—were screened and shown to be superior in terms of their Dy absorption when compared to S. cerevisiae. Here, we analyzed the Dy absorption in these yeast strains. Methods: Dy absorption in yeast strains was measured using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Dy concentration and localization in yeast cells and the effect of treated pH on the Dy absorption were assayed. Results: The Dy absorption of Alt-OF2 and Alt-OF5 was more than two times that of S. cerevisiae. The absorption of Dy took place inside of the cells, and a small amount was found in the cell wall fraction. Conclusion: These results suggest that yeast offers a promising solution to the biosorption of rare earth metals and that it is possible to use the highly absorbent strains to breed a yeast strain that can recover even higher concentrations of Dy.
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