United States Project Notice - Ligand Facilitated Bioaccumulation: Biomining Of Rare Earth And Other Critical Metals From Electronic Wastes

Project Notice
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
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