CMI Project 3.2.13: Biomaterials for critical material dissolution, recovery and separation Research Highlights

Development of a one-step magnet swarf bioleaching process

CMI researchers from Idaho National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight.

bar graph shows Bioleaching of metals from milled magnetic swarf by the bacterium Gluconbacter oxydans. Data shown are cumulative metal concentrations in bioleachate from the solid permanent magnet swarf. 1-step indicates biolixiviant production is conducted simultaneously with bioleaching whereas 2-step is biolixiviant production followed by bioleaching.

Combining ADR and lanmodulin for Dy separation from E-waste

CMI researchers from Ames National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight.

Scandium and yttrium separation from simulated allanite leachate

CMI researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Penn State conducted the research for this highlight.

$bar graph shows Lanmodulin protein-based process for Sc, Y, and grouped lanthanide separation from a simulated allanite leachate (pH 3). Plot depicts the composition of Sc, Y, HREE, MREE, and La+Ce fractions.$

Harnessing a new protein for enhanced REE separation

CMI researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Pennsylvania State University conducted the research for this highlight.

a line graph represents a new lanmodulin protein enables high-purity separation of Nd/Dy. A solution comprising a 5:95 mixture of Dy:Nd (pH 5) was subjected to a coupled adsorption/desorption cycle with immobilized protein.

Metabolic flux modeling enables optimized production of organic acids for bioleaching

CMI researchers at Idaho National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

diagram shows Predictive metabolic modeling supported by laboratory testing can be used to develop improved production of organic acid lixiviants for economical bioleaching processes.

Biological separation of REE using an immobilized protein

CMI researchers at Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Pennsylvania State University conducted the research for this highlight

$graphs show Lanmodulin enables high-purity separation of Nd/Dy. A solution comprising a 5:95 mixture of Dy:Nd (pH 3) was subjected to two coupled adsorption/desorption cycles. The first cycle (left panel) generated a high-purity Nd solution (99.9%) and an upgraded Dy (44% Dy/ 56% Nd) solution. The upgraded Dy solution was used as a feed solution in a second adsorption/desorption cycle (right panel) to generate high-purity Dy and Nd fractions. The duration of each pH step is depicted by the dark gray dashed$

Biosorption: LBT column for REE separation

CMI researchers at Idaho National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

REE breakthrough curves with REE mixtures that contain lanthanides and Y.

Biosorption: LanM immobilization on columns

CMI researchers at Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Pennsylvania State University conducted the research for this highlight

graph showing REE breakthrough curves with REE mixtures that contain lanthanides and Y.

Leaching REE from industrial and urban wastes

CMI creates bioleaching process with agricultural waste can be used to recover rare earth elements from industrial and urban wastes

bar chart compares rare earth recovery using different sources of material for bioleaching

Lithium ion battery bioleaching optimization

CMI research optimizes lithium ion battery bioleaching

bar graph of bioleaching cobalt from cathode of lithium ion battery