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Space station biomining experiment demonstrates rare earth element extraction in microgravity and Mars gravity

Author

Listed:
  • Charles S. Cockell

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Rosa Santomartino

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Kai Finster

    (Department of Bioscience–Microbiology)

  • Annemiek C. Waajen

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Lorna J. Eades

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Ralf Moeller

    (Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe)

  • Petra Rettberg

    (Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe)

  • Felix M. Fuchs

    (Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Sciences, Ruhr University Bochum)

  • Rob Houdt

    (Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN)

  • Natalie Leys

    (Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN)

  • Ilse Coninx

    (Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN)

  • Jason Hatton

    (ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1)

  • Luca Parmitano

    (ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1)

  • Jutta Krause

    (ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1)

  • Andrea Koehler

    (ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1)

  • Nicol Caplin

    (ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1)

  • Lobke Zuijderduijn

    (ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1)

  • Alessandro Mariani

    (Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501)

  • Stefano S. Pellari

    (Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501)

  • Fabrizio Carubia

    (Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501)

  • Giacomo Luciani

    (Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501)

  • Michele Balsamo

    (Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501)

  • Valfredo Zolesi

    (Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501)

  • Natasha Nicholson

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Claire-Marie Loudon

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Jeannine Doswald-Winkler

    (Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9)

  • Magdalena Herová

    (Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9)

  • Bernd Rattenbacher

    (Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9)

  • Jennifer Wadsworth

    (NASA Ames Research Center)

  • R. Craig Everroad

    (NASA Ames Research Center)

  • René Demets

    (ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1)

Abstract

Microorganisms are employed to mine economically important elements from rocks, including the rare earth elements (REEs), used in electronic industries and alloy production. We carried out a mining experiment on the International Space Station to test hypotheses on the bioleaching of REEs from basaltic rock in microgravity and simulated Mars and Earth gravities using three microorganisms and a purposely designed biomining reactor. Sphingomonas desiccabilis enhanced mean leached concentrations of REEs compared to non-biological controls in all gravity conditions. No significant difference in final yields was observed between gravity conditions, showing the efficacy of the process under different gravity regimens. Bacillus subtilis exhibited a reduction in bioleaching efficacy and Cupriavidus metallidurans showed no difference compared to non-biological controls, showing the microbial specificity of the process, as on Earth. These data demonstrate the potential for space biomining and the principles of a reactor to advance human industry and mining beyond Earth.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles S. Cockell & Rosa Santomartino & Kai Finster & Annemiek C. Waajen & Lorna J. Eades & Ralf Moeller & Petra Rettberg & Felix M. Fuchs & Rob Houdt & Natalie Leys & Ilse Coninx & Jason Hatton & Lu, 2020. "Space station biomining experiment demonstrates rare earth element extraction in microgravity and Mars gravity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-19276-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19276-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Rosa Santomartino & Nils J. H. Averesch & Marufa Bhuiyan & Charles S. Cockell & Jesse Colangelo & Yosephine Gumulya & Benjamin Lehner & Ivanna Lopez-Ayala & Sean McMahon & Anurup Mohanty & Sergio R. S, 2023. "Toward sustainable space exploration: a roadmap for harnessing the power of microorganisms," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Gretchen Vengerova & Isaac Lipsky & Gwyneth A. Hutchinson & Nils J. H. Averesch & Aaron J. Berliner, 2024. "Space bioprocess engineering as a potential catalyst for sustainability," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(3), pages 238-246, March.
    3. Kevin Y. Huang & Lizette Cardenas & Andrew D. Ellington & David J. F. Walker, 2024. "Supercharged fluorescent proteins detect lanthanides via direct antennae signaling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Nils J. H. Averesch & Aaron J. Berliner & Shannon N. Nangle & Spencer Zezulka & Gretchen L. Vengerova & Davian Ho & Cameran A. Casale & Benjamin A. E. Lehner & Jessica E. Snyder & Kevin B. Clark & Lew, 2023. "Microbial biomanufacturing for space-exploration—what to take and when to make," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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