Biomining – Critical Minerals Recovery Using Microorganisms

Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential to many high-tech devices, and thus are of critical and strategic importance. Our goal is to develop cost-effective, environmentally friendly technologies for bioextracting and bioaccumulating REEs from several kinds of rocks and minerals. Microbes tested for bioextraction included Cupriavidus basiliensis SRS, a bacterium isolated from the Savannah River Site (SRS). When bastnaesite was inoculated with C. basiliensis SRS, extraction of REEs such as cerium (Ce), lanthanum (Ln), and neodymium (Nd) was significantly higher (>20 ppb) than for other cultures. Siderophores were identified as a potential biomining mechanism. Next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA genes was used to monitor microbial population changes associated with biomining. C. basiliensis SRS, when added to mining material, dominated 99% of the microbial population. C. basiliensis SRS sorbed >90% Ce and Ln from solution over controls in biosorption studies. It was demonstrated that C. basiliensis SRS can bioextract select REEs from mined materials at ppm concentrations when combined with heat treatment. C. basiliensis SRS also successfully extracted Uranium (U) and Nickel (Ni) from contaminated SRS stream sediments. C. basiliensis SRS genome annotation reveals numerous putative proteins responsible for metal acquisition and homeostasis. Further studies of bioremediation, bioextraction, and molecular characterization are ongoing to understand and develop biomining strategies.

The Microbiology Department is hosting an orientation/information session for ILS students on Friday, September 9, 2022. The event kicks off with a keynote talk by Dr. Courtney Ellison at 1:00 pm. Additional recruiting faculty will give short research talks followed by a Q & A session. Following the faculty research talks there will be a graduate student poster session. ILS students are welcome to attend the entire event or drop in at any time. Please contact mibcoord@uga.edu for additional information.

Dr. Courtney Ellison will be giving the Keynote talk during our 2022 Welcome Retreat. The Welcome Retreat is an event focused on showcasing the various research projects that are ongoing in the Department of Microbiology. All new ILS students are invited to attend a series of faculty talks followed by a graduate student poster session. Dr. Ellison's talk is open to anyone that would like to attend. Please contact the Microbiology Department at mibcoord@uga.edu for additional information.

The Microbiology Faculty and Office Staff enjoyed a Fall 2022 retreat at the CCRC. The Department of Microbiology was able to enjoy a delicious lunch together and discuss all of the great things going on in the department. We look forward to an exciting academic year!

Dissertation Defense Seminar by Michael Mills, Starai Lab.

The Microbiology Department would like to congratulate the MGSA officers for 2022-2023. The newly elected officers will begin their term in July 2022.  We are very excited to have this great group leading us through the next academic year.  Please congratulate your new MGSA!

President: Rachel Dockman

Treasurer: Kevin Riedmuller

Recruitment Chairs: Jared Smith, Brandi Buckner

Social Chair: Abigail Deaven

Peer Mentoring Chairs: Amy Siceloff, Rochelle Yap

Communication & Outreach: Oliver Gregory