Selective bacterial separation of critical metals: towards a sustainable method for recycling lithium ion batteries.

The large scale recycling of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) is essential to satisfy global demands for the raw materials required to implement this technology as part of a clean energy strategy. However, despite what is rapidly becoming a critical need, an efficient and sustainable recycling process for LIBs has yet to be developed. Biological reactions occur with great selectivity under mild conditions, offering new avenues for the implementation of more environmentally sustainable processes. Here, we demonstrate a sequential process employing two bacterial species to recover Mn, Co and Ni, from vehicular LIBs through the biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles, whilst Li remains within the leachate. Moreover the feasibility of Mn recovery from polymetallic solutions was demonstrated at semi-pilot scale in a 30 L bioreactor. Additionally, to provide insight into the biological process occurring, we investigated selectivity between Co and Ni using proteomics to identify the biological response and confirm the potential of a bio-based method to separate these two essential metals. Our approach determines the principles and first steps of a practical bio-separation and recovery system, underlining the relevance of harnessing biological specificity for recycling and up-cycling critical materials.

Production of Biogenic Nanoparticles for the Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol and Oxidative Laccase-Like Reactions.

Biogenic nanoparticles present a wide range of possibilities for use in industrial applications, their production is greener, they can be manufactured using impure feedstocks, and often have different catalytic abilities compared to their chemically made analogs. Nanoparticles of Ag, Pd, Pt, and the bi-elemental PdPt were produced by Morganella psychrotolerans and Desulfovibrio alaskensis and were shown to be able to reduce 4-nitrophenol, an industrial and toxic pollutant. Nanoparticles were recovered post-reaction and then reused, thus demonstrating continued activity. Biogenic PdNPs were shown to have enhanced specificity in a wide pH activity range in the oxidation of the three common substrates used 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), 2,6-Dimethoxyphenol and (2,6-DMP) and 3,3',5,5'-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to determine oxidase-like activity. Overall Pd in a nanoparticle form exhibited higher oxidation activity than its ionic counterpart, highlighting the potential of biogenic nanoparticles over the use of ions or chemically made elemental forms.

High resolution fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) for the characterisation of enzymatic processing of commercial lignin.

Lignin and lignin components of woody biomass have been identified as an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. However, the complex composition of this plant polymer is one of the drawbacks that limits its exploitation. Biocatalysis of lignin to produce platform chemicals has been receiving great attention as it presents a sustainable approach for lignin valorisation. Aligned with this area of research, in the present study we have applied ultra-high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) to identify the preferred lignin substrates of a ligninolytic enzyme, a laccase produced by the terrestrial fungus Trametes versicolor. A commercial lignin was incubated with the laccase and acetosyringone (a laccase mediator) for up to 168 h and direct infusion electrospray FT-ICR MS enabled the identification of thousands of molecular species present in the complex lignin sample at different incubation time points. Significant changes in the chemical composition of lignin were detected upon laccase treatment, which resulted in a decrease in the molecular mass distribution of assigned species, consistent with laccase lytic activity. This reduction was predominantly in species classified as lignin-like (based on elemental ratios) and polymeric in nature (>400 Da). Of particular note was a fall in the number of species assigned containing sulfur. Changes in the chemical composition/structure of the lignin polymer were supported by FT-IR spectroscopy. We propose the use of FT-ICR MS as a rapid and efficient technique to support the biotechnological valorisation of lignin as well as the development and optimization of laccase-mediator systems for treating complex mixtures.

Natural marine bacteria as model organisms for the hazard-assessment of consumer products containing silver nanoparticles.

Scarce information is available regarding the fate and toxicology of engineered silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the marine environment, especially when compared to other environmental compartments. Hence, the antibacterial activity of the NM-300 AgNPs (OECD programme) and a household product containing colloidal AgNPs (Mesosilver) was investigated using marine bacteria, pure cultures and natural mixed populations (microcosm approach). Bacterial susceptibility to AgNPs was species-specific, with Gram negative bacteria being more resistant than the Gram positive species (NM-300 concentration used ranged between 0.062 and 1.5 mg L-1), and the Mesosilver product was more toxic than the NM-300. Bacterial viability and the physiological status (O2 uptake measured by respirometry) of the microbial community in the microcosm was negatively affected at an initial concentration of 1 mg L-1 NM-300. The high chloride concentrations in the media/seawater led to the formation of silver-chloro complexes thus enhancing AgNP toxicity. We recommend the use of natural marine bacteria as models when assessing the environmental relevant antibacterial properties of products containing nanosilver.

Variability in physical contamination assessment of source segregated biodegradable municipal waste derived composts.

Physical contaminants (glass, metal, plastic and 'other') and stones were isolated and categorised from three finished commercial composts derived from source segregated biodegradable municipal waste (BMW). A subset of the identified physical contaminant fragments were subsequently reintroduced into the cleaned compost samples and sent to three commercial laboratories for testing in an inter-laboratory trial using the current PAS100:2011 method (AfOR MT PC&S). The trial showed that the 'other' category caused difficulty for all three laboratories with under reporting, particularly of the most common 'other' contaminants (paper and cardboard) and, over-reporting of non-man-made fragments. One laboratory underreported metal contaminant fragments (spiked as silver foil) in three samples. Glass, plastic and stones were variably underreported due to miss-classification or over reported due to contamination with compost (organic) fragments. The results are discussed in the context of global physical contaminant test methods and compost quality assurance schemes.

Bacterial Diversity Associated with the Coccolithophorid Algae Emiliania huxleyi and Coccolithus pelagicus f. braarudii.

Coccolithophores are unicellular calcifying marine phytoplankton that can form large and conspicuous blooms in the oceans and make significant contributions to oceanic carbon cycling and atmospheric CO2 regulation. Despite their importance, the bacterial diversity associated with these algae has not been explored for ecological or biotechnological reasons. Bacterial membership of Emiliania huxleyi and Coccolithus pelagicus f. braarudii cultures was assessed using cultivation and cultivation-independent methods. The communities were species rich compared to other phytoplankton cultures. Community analysis identified specific taxa which cooccur in all cultures (Marinobacter and Marivita). Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were found in all cultures. The presence of Acidobacteria, Acidimicrobidae, Schlegelella, and Thermomonas was unprecedented but were potentially explained by calcification associated with coccolith production. One strain of Acidobacteria was cultivated and is closely related to a marine Acidobacteria isolated from a sponge. From this assessment of the bacterial diversity of coccolithophores, a number of biotechnological opportunities are evident, from bioprospecting for novel taxa such as Acidobacteria to helping understand the relationship between obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria occurrence with phytoplankton and to revealing bacterial taxa that have a specific association with algae and may be suitable candidates as a means to improve the efficiency of mass algal cultivation.

Shifts in the metabolic function of a benthic estuarine microbial community following a single pulse exposure to silver nanoparticles.

The increasing use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a biocidal agent and their potential accumulation in sediments may threaten non-target natural environmental bacterial communities. In this study a microcosm approach was established to investigate the effects of well characterized OECD AgNPs (NM-300) on the function of the bacterial community inhabiting marine estuarine sediments (salinity 31‰). The results showed that a single pulse of NM-300 AgNPs (1 mg L(-1)) that led to sediment concentrations below 6 mg Ag kg(-1) dry weight inhibited the bacterial utilization of environmentally relevant carbon substrates. As a result, the functional diversity changed, but recovered after 120 h under the experimental conditions. This microcosm study suggests that AgNPs under environmentally relevant experimental conditions can negatively affect bacterial function and provides an insight into the understanding of the bacterial community response and resilience to AgNPs exposure, important for informing relevant regulatory measures.