Intern shows REE impacts on bacteria differ for different species

Alex Flynn, undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University
Alex Flynn, undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University

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

Innovation
Comparing the impacts of rare earths on bacteria important for bioleaching and for wastewater treatment.

Achievement
Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship intern observed that bioleaching bacterium Gluconobacter oxydans was significantly more tolerant to lanthanum salt addition than ammonia oxidizing bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea.

Significance and Impact

  • Results showed that bacterial tolerance to rare earth exposure differs between individual species.
  • Student learned about critical materials and microbial ecotoxicity evaluation, and independent research and communication skills.

Hub Target Addressed

  • Assessing economic, environmental, and social acceptance impacts.
  • Training the critical materials workforce of the future.
Nitrite production by ammonia oxidizing bacterium N. europaea after 72 h exposure to different dosages of La (upper panel), and cell density of bioleaching organism G. oxydans after 48 h exposure to La (lower panel). P-values for two tailed t-test compared to control shown on charts.
Nitrite production by ammonia oxidizing bacterium N. europaea after 72 h exposure to different dosages of La (upper panel), and cell density of bioleaching organism G. oxydans after 48 h exposure to La (lower panel). P-values for two tailed t-test compared to control shown on charts.