Project Notice |
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| PNR | 52141 |
| Project Name | Ligand Facilitated Bioaccumulation: Biomining of Rare Earth and Other Critical Metals from Electronic Wastes |
| Project Detail | The University of California Berkeley will develop a highly selective, environmentally friendly bacterial platform to recover rare earth elements (REEs) from complex electronic waste (E-waste) streams. Feedstocks range from simple (magnet shavings) to complex matrix (printed circuit board recycling waste and used mobile devices). The team will engineer a single bacterial species that acquires REEs from solid feedstocks and converts them to REE minerals at a neutral pH without harsh acids or organic solvents. The team will couple synthetic biology with bioengineering to enhance REE-leaching, uptake, and storage. It will use inexpensive and readily available methanol as the carbon and energy source to support bacterial growth. |
| Funded By | Self-Funded |
| Sector | Railways |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Project Value | USD 1,100,000 |
Contact Information |
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| Company Name | University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) |
| Address | ARPA-E Program Director: Dr. Douglas Wicks Project Contact: Dr. Norma Martinez-Gomez Press and General Inquiries Email: ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov Project Contact Email: cecimartinez@berkeley.edu |
| Web Site | https://arpa-e.energy.gov/technologies/projects/ligand-facilitated-bioaccumulation-biomining-rare-earth-and-other-critical |
