Biosorption of Rare Earth Elements by Different Microorganisms in Acidic Solutions

Anja Breuker,Simon F Ritter,Axel Schippers

doi:10.3390/met10070954

Anja Breuker, Simon F Ritter + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/met10070954

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Journal: Metals	Publication Date: Jul 15, 2020
Citations: 16	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources

Abstract

Acidic solutions from metal bioleaching processes usually contain mixtures of metals in different concentrations which need to be separated and concentrated in downstream processing. Aim of this study was to explore and compare biosorption of rare earth elements (REE) by different microorganisms in acidic solutions. Biosorption of REE by bacteria and fungi showed element selective biosorption. The gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis showed a higher selectivity to ytterbium (Yb) and lutetium (Lu) than the gram-negative bacteria Leisingera methylohalidivorans and Phaeobacter inhibens. In contrast, the tested fungi (Catenulostroma chromoblastomyces, Pichia sp.) showed a preference for the middle rare earth elements. Algae exhibited a low biosorption performance. Additionally, for B. subtilis and one yeast (Pichia sp.), better results were achieved with living than dead biomass. This study compares for the first time biosorption of different microorganisms at standardized conditions at low pH und application related conditions.

Highlights

The ability of microbial cells to sequester solutes selectively from aquatic solutions, via non-metabolically mediated pathways, has been termed biosorption [1]
These results are in accordance with those of the red algae Galderia sulphuraria which performed with living vs. those dead BM
[15].red algae Galderia sulphuraria which. These better resultsbiosorption are in accordance with of the performed better biosorption with living vs. dead BM [15]. These results are in accordance with those of the red algae Galderia sulphuraria which performed better biosorption with living vs. dead BM [15]

Summary

Introduction

The ability of microbial cells to sequester solutes selectively from aquatic solutions, via non-metabolically mediated pathways, has been termed biosorption [1]. Biosorption can be defined as the removal of substances from solution by biological material [2,3]. Biosorption can be performed in a wide range of pH values 3–9 [4]. The pH is possibly the most important physico-chemical parameter for biosorption and competition between cations and protons for binding sites means that biosorption of metals like Cu, Cd, Ni, Co and Zn is often reduced at low pH values [3]. Bioleaching usually takes place in acidic solutions with low pH (

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