B.C. Sanders, H. Andrews, A.Y. Borisevich, L. Hochanadel, B. Manard, J. Michener, J. Morrell-Falvey, J. Parks, A. Plechaty, S. Szakas, D. Vasileva, D. Walker, A. Webb, A. Williams, S. Yakubov
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
United States
Keywords: bacterial spores, biorecovery, bioseparation, rare earth elements
Summary:
The recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from complex, low-concentration domestic sources remains a critical challenge in strengthening U.S. materials supply chains. Biological systems offer unmatched potential for selective REE capture, but current approaches lack the durability and controllability needed for industrial applications. Bacterial spores provide a unique foundation for bio-based separations as they are metabolically dormant, chemically resilient, and can be modified through synthetic biology to present specific metal binding sites on their surfaces. We are coupling these capabilities with high-throughput analytical measurements to establish the quantitative relationships between spore surface chemistry, architecture, and metal-binding performance. New single-particle and laser-ablation ICP-MS workflows are enabling rapid assessment of REE uptake and release at the individual-spore and bulk scales, while advanced microscopy and spectroscopy provide complementary insights into surface morphology and composition. These studies aim to reveal the underlying design principles that control selectivity, affinity, and reusability in bio-based separations. Together, this work is defining the genetic, analytical, and materials frameworks required to treat bacterial spores as engineered, functional materials. The long-term goal is to establish a biological platform that combines selectivity and resilience for use in next-generation separations technologies for critical materials recovery.