Mineral-Microbe interaction role in concentration and Fractionation of Rare Earth Elements (MM-FREE)

近年来，对新的稀土元素(REE)资源的需求不断增加，以满足新的“绿色”技术，特别是重稀土元素(HREE)和高效资源处理的日益增长的需求。微生物可以在稀土和其他金属的积累、动员和分馏中发挥作用。然而，就稀土开采生命周期而言，这一作用尚未得到充分了解--具体而言，在以下背景下稀土的生物浸出、生物吸附和生物矿化：(1)从低品位矿石中回收稀土；(2)采矿过程中释放的稀土(连同其他有害健康的元素)对环境和人类健康的影响。这些生物地球化学过程是利用生物技术从低品位矿床中最佳回收稀土的基础，其中微生物生物催化技术被认为是最有前途的环保和高效的低品位矿床技术。此外，尽管与稀土有关的放射性核素对生态和人类健康的潜在威胁是已知的，但知识差距降低了对稀土开采和加工影响的环境评估的信心。这些差距包括：稀土与其他有害元素的相互作用；加工过程中产生的形态、流动性和分散性；暴露水平；以及对水生和陆地生物以及人类健康的毒理影响。因此，需要对基础科学进行评估，以定量描述生物过程和控制地球化学因素在稀土开采、加工、使用和“报废”处置生命周期中的作用。拟议工作的目的是解决这些关键知识差距并制定研究战略。这将建立对稀土元素在低温下从原子到野外的行为和分馏的关键生物地球化学控制的机械理解；通过数学建模提供过程量化。将考虑自然的和工程的(在矿石加工中)稀土分馏和富集化机制的复杂性。拟议的方法是稳健的，将确保提供关键信息和量化描述，涉及稀土元素生命周期的各个阶段。该项目汇集了一个在所需领域拥有专业知识的多学科团队，以提供这笔催化剂赠款。这些学科包括：地质微生物学和细胞-矿物相互作用的分子科学、地质学、矿物学和岩石学、环境采矿影响和医学地质学，并得到广泛的实验室专门知识和设施的支持，以研究稀土在风化和沉积成岩环境中的积累和迁移。这笔CATALYER赠款将在独特的研究团队与采矿和健康行业之间建立必要的联盟，以确保制定研究方案，提供新知识，最大限度地影响技术。由此产生的完整提案将有一个强大的以科学为主导的框架。这将有助于(1)设计有效、低能量开采稀土资源的生物技术工艺，以及(2)加深对稀土开采对环境和人类健康影响的了解，以便能够开发适当的缓解技术。

The increased need for new Rare Earth Element (REE) resources, to meet the growing demand from new "green" technologies, particularly heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs), and efficient resource processing has stimulated much research in recent years. Microbes can play a role in the accumulation, mobilisation and fractionation of REEs and other metals. However, this role is not fully understood in relation to the REE exploitation life-cycle - specifically, bioleaching, biosorption and biomineralisation of REEs in the context of: (1) REE recovery from low grade ores; and (2) the impact of REE release (together with other elements harmful to health) during mining on the environment and on human health. These bio-geochemical processes are fundamental to optimising REE recovery from low grade ore deposits using biotechnologies, where microbial biocatalysis technologies are regarded as the most promising eco-friendly and efficient technologies for low-grade deposits. Furthermore, although the potential threats to ecology and human health from radionuclides associated with REEs are known, there are knowledge gaps which reduce confidence in environmental assessments of the impacts of REE mining and processing. These gaps include: interactions of REEs with other harmful elements; the resulting speciation, mobility and dispersion during processing; exposure levels; and the toxicological effects on aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and human health. An evaluation of the fundamental science is therefore required to quantitatively describe the role of biological processes and controlling geochemical factors in the REE mining, processing, use and "end-of-life" disposal life-cycle.The aim of the proposed work is to address these key knowledge gaps and develop a research strategy. This will build a mechanistic understanding of the critical bio-geochemical controls on REE behaviours and fractionation at low temperatures, from atomic- to field- scale; provide process quantification through mathematical modelling. The complexity of natural and engineered (in ore-processing) REE fractionation and enrichment mechanisms will be considered. The proposed approach is robust and will ensure the delivery of critical information and quantitative descriptions which address the various phases of REE life-cycle.The project brings together a multidisciplinary team with expertise in the required areas needed to deliver this catalyst grant. These include: geomicrobiology and molecular science of cell-mineral interactions, geology, mineralogy and petrography, environmental mining impact and medical geology, supported by extensive laboratory expertise and facilities to investigate the accumulation and mobility of REEs in weathering and sedimentary diagenetic environments. This catalyst grant will provide the necessary consortium building between unique research teams and the mining and health industry to ensure the development of a research programme which will deliver new knowledge for maximum impact for technology. The resulting full proposal will have a strong science-led framework. This will (1) help design biotechnology processes for efficient, low-energy exploitation of REE resources and (2) develop an understanding of impacts of REE exploitation on the environment and human health so that appropriate mitigation techniques can be developed.