21ENGBIO: Engineering Biology for Integration with Deep Eutectic Solvents

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Deep eutectic solvents, especially the bio-based ones being used within this work, are 'green solvents' with low toxicity and sustainable sources. They can be used in a wide variety of processes ranging from the valorisation of food waste, to drug delivery systems. In this work we will be using deep eutectic solvents that have been used to semi-selectively recover metals from green technologies, such as electric vehicle batteries. We will examine the potential for these deep eutectic solvents laden with dissolved metals to be used as a feed for bacteria that produce metal nanoparticles and optimise the process accordingly by engineering the bacteria. Our aim is to be able to recover the metals, especially those that are categorised as 'critical materials', from green technologies that have come to their end of life, so that the metals can be used again, and to do so in process that is sustainable, low energy and environmentally safe.