EAGER: Rapid Screening and Identification of Organisms which Hyper-Accumulate Metals

1500815斯利瓦斯塔瓦爱达荷州大学稀土元素(REE)被认为是关键材料，因为它们在各种商业部门中的基本用途以及它们可能导致供应短缺和稀缺。从废气和废弃产品中回收稀土是一项有吸引力的技术，但从这些材料中分离稀土可能成本高昂，并涉及有毒和危险的化学品。微生物具有选择性地积累和分离包括稀土在内的金属的能力，但尚未被用作稀土的分离技术。PI建议开发一种基于微流控电介质分离(DEP)的高风险高回报平台技术。这项拟议的工作预计将改变生物材料的筛选，为高性能生物材料的高通量筛选提供高度适应性的手段。拟议的工作将通过以下方式完成：1)利用计算流体力学设计和模拟各种DEP微设备作为分离欧姆的手段，2)使用两种截然不同的模型微生物-氧化亚铁硫杆菌和铜绿假单胞菌来构建和验证微设备。开发一种鉴定和分离这些高效微生物的快速筛选工具，将大大加强和加快用于所有类型的生物吸附的微生物的筛选和发展，而不仅仅是针对金属；为分离挑战提供一种更环保、可能更具成本效益的技术解决方案。

1500815SrivastavaUniversity of IdahoRare earth elements (REE) are considered critical materials because of their essential usage in a variety of business sectors and their potential for supply shortages and scarcity. Recovery of REE from waste streams and end-of-life products is an attractive technology, however separation of REE from these materials can be costly and involve toxic and hazardous chemicals. Microorganisms have the capacity to selectively accumulate and fractionate metals including REE but have not been deployed as a separation technology for REE. The PI proposes to develop a high risk high payoff platform technology based on microfluidic separation using dielectrophoresis (DEP). The proposed work is anticipated to transform the screening of biomaterials by providing a highly adaptable means for high-throughput screening of superior performing biomaterials. The proposed work will be accomplished through 1) utilizing computational fluid dynamics to design and simulate a variety of DEP microdevices as a means for separation of OHMs and, 2) construction and validation of the microdevice using two very different model microorganisms, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Cupriavidus necator. Development of a rapid screening tool for identification and separation of these high performing organisms would significantly enhance and accelerate screening and development of microorganisms used in biosorption of all types, not just specific to metals; providing a greener and potentially more cost effective technological solution to separation challenges.