Team:Calgary/Bioleaching Overview
OVERVIEW
Lanmodulin provides a selective and effective way to separate REEs from other metals in solution, but for this to happen, mixed metal e-waste must first be solubilized. This can be done conventionally by dissolving the metals in strong acids. However, there are many toxic and caustic dangers while producing and utilizing strong acids and chemicals. Given the environmental nature of our goals with Neocycle, we knew that our vision was incompatible with environmentally-detrimental extraction methods. For that reason, we sought to demonstrate the compatibility of our system with a more environmentally responsible method.
Bioleaching is the use of acid-producing bacteria to dissolve metals from their matrices for extraction or separation. Bioleaching is not only more environmentally sustainable, it is also the same or less expensive for industrial implementation compared to conventional methods. This makes it a strong option for metal processors who want to implement Neocycle in a cost-effective and less hazardous way. By providing the first direct experimental comparison of these two common model bioleaching organisms, we can provide researchers and industry members with more information to choose which species best suits their unique needs to complement our REE separation system.
WET LAB
The hope of this portion of the project is to directly compare the growth rate, leaching rate and efficiency, and acid generation of the two species in order to contribute to industrial understanding of their relative benefits and drawbacks. No study to date has directly compared the use of these two promising species under equivalent conditions, making this a valuable area of research for the benefit of future researchers seeking to make an informed decision between the two. We have demonstrated that bioleaching is effective at solubilizing REEs from both NdFeB magnets and hard drive shredding dust, two REE-rich e-wastes with high potential to be utilized by the Neocycle system.
