Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Microbial Biomining for the Release and Recovery of Rare Earth Elements in Abandoned Coal Mine Drainage

Conference ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2998647· OSTI ID:2998647
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [1];  [1];  [4]
  1. Duquesne University
  2. PennWest California
  3. National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
  4. NETL
+ Show Author Affiliations
Microbes can be used for biomining rare earth elements (REEs) from abandoned coal-mine drainage (AMD) solids. Domestically Pennsylvania has ~11,000 abandoned mines, with ~500 AMD passive remediation systems (PRSs) that precipitate REE rich solids. In passive systems, REEs, co-precipitate with manganese (Mn), accumulating as a valuable leachate when resolubilized. REEs like lanthanum (La) are used in battery technology. Microbial metabolism that co-resolubilize Mn and REEs could result in an affordable release process that does not require the addition of hazardous chemical additives. Microbial sequestering of La can be used for selective purification from a mixed REE composition. Currently, the microbial mechanisms that contribute to mass REE resolubilization and selective sequestration are poorly understood. We have isolated bacteria (Bacillus mycoides JR07 and Bacillus pseudomycoides KB7) that solubilize Mn oxide, La oxide, and AMD solids by acidogenesis. Preliminary results show methylotrophic bacterial isolate B3 can take up soluble La, which may have a potential application in the purification of La from a mixed REE leachate. Determining the microbial metabolism and genes involved in the REE resolubilization and selective biomining of La is crucial to optimize the biomining of AMD solids. Our work addresses the growing need to develop novel REE recovery methods from domestic sources.
Research Organization:
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM); USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), Office of Resource Sustainability (FE-30)
OSTI ID:
2998647
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Bacterial Biomining Rare Earth Elements in Abandoned Coal Mine Drainage: Solubilization and Sequestration
Conference · Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · OSTI ID:2570848
Microbial Reduction of Manganese Oxides From AMD Solids for the Biomining of Critical Minerals / Rare Earth Elements
Conference · Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · OSTI ID:2512400
Biomining Critical Elements and Metals
Technical Report · Thu Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · OSTI ID:1827963

Related Subjects

microbiology