Development of an efficient separation system for recovery of rare metals by using biomass resources

需要一种有效的分离技术来回收高科技产业中不可缺少的稀有金属。在本研究中，我们开发了以生物质资源为吸附剂的吸附分离稀有金属的方法。我们研究了贵重金属和稀土金属在富含蛋白质的生物质上的吸附，如蛋壳膜、羽毛等，或细菌大肠杆菌和真菌酵母。结果表明，大肠杆菌对贵金属的分离效果较好，并证明了其作为离子交换剂的适用性。

An efficient separation technique for the recovery of rare metals, which are indispensable for high-tech industries, has been required. In this study, we developed the adsorption method for the separation of such rare metals by using biomass resources as adsorbents. We examined the adsorption of precious metals and rare earth metals onto protein rich biomass such as eggshell membrane, feather and so on, or bacteria E-coli and fungi yeast. The efficient separation of precious metals was attained and the applicability of E-coli as an ion-exchanger was demonstrated.