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

近年来，为了满足新的“绿色”技术，特别是重稀土元素（HREE）和有效的资源加工的日益增长的需求，对新的稀土元素（REE）资源的需求增加，刺激了许多研究。微生物可以在稀土元素和其他金属的积累、移动和分馏中发挥作用。然而，在稀土元素开采生命周期方面，特别是在以下方面稀土元素的生物沥滤、生物吸附和生物矿化方面，这一作用尚未得到充分理解：（1）从低品位矿石中回收稀土元素;（2）采矿过程中稀土元素释放（以及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优化低品位矿床中稀土回收的基础，其中微生物生物催化技术被认为是最有前途的低品位矿床生态友好和高效技术。此外，虽然已知与稀土元素有关的放射性核素对生态和人类健康的潜在威胁，但存在知识空白，这降低了对稀土元素开采和加工影响的环境评估的信心。这些差距包括：这些问题包括：稀土元素与其他有害元素的相互作用;加工过程中由此产生的形态形成、流动性和扩散;接触水平;以及对水生和陆生生物以及人类健康的毒理学影响。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。这将建立一个关键的生物地球化学控制稀土元素的行为和分馏在低温下，从原子到现场规模的机械理解，通过数学建模提供过程量化。自然和工程（在矿石加工）稀土元素分馏和富集机制的复杂性将被考虑。拟议的方法是稳健的，将确保提供关键信息和定量描述，解决REE生命周期的各个阶段。该项目汇集了一个多学科团队，在提供这一催化剂赠款所需的领域具有专业知识。其中包括：该研究所的研究领域包括：细胞-矿物相互作用的地球微生物学和分子科学、地质学、矿物学和岩相学、环境采矿影响和医学地质学，并得到广泛的实验室专业知识和设施的支持，以调查风化和沉积成岩环境中稀土元素的积累和流动性。该催化剂赠款将在独特的研究团队与采矿和卫生行业之间建立必要的联盟，以确保研究计划的发展，从而提供新知识，以最大限度地发挥技术影响。由此产生的完整提案将有一个强有力的科学主导的框架。这将有助于（1）设计高效、低能耗的稀土资源开发的生物技术流程，（2）了解稀土资源开发对环境和人类健康的影响，以便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.