To colonize space, we need to extract or recycle metals as building materials. Flying up heavy-duty equipment for traditional mining is not viable economically or structurally. Bacteria are small, easy to transport, and can mine the same amount or more than traditional methods. They can be used to extract metals from sediment on solid planets, asteroids, or even metal electronics aboard spacecraft.
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To colonize space, we need to extract metals as building materials. But bringing heavy-duty equipment for traditional mining is not viable economically or structurally. As a solution, bacteria and other biological organisms can be used to extract metals from sediment on solid planets or asteroids. Bacteria are small enough to be economically attractive, easier to transport, and can mine the same or more amount than traditional methods .
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Our project focuses mostly on metal extraction from electronics recycling in space. Since most electronics, however, are covered with a thin layer of oxidized silica, we decided to tackle this obstacle first before delving into the actual metal mining.
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We have two biomining projects we are pursuing:
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'''Iron Biomining'''
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Iron (Fe) is one of the most common elements in space . It makes up a significant portion of the surface of Mars and is common in the mantle and core of asteroids . Once extracted, iron is relatively easy to purify through chemical means and then can be casted or converted into steel products for building, which is useful both on Earth and in Space. There are already a number of noted species of bacteria that are used for iron heap biomining, all of which are naturally adapted to the heap environment.
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We want to characterize an iron-oxidation biobrick from these natural oxidizers to place in E.coli, which does not naturally oxidize iron. We plan to look at two strains of iron oxidizing bacteria: ''A. ferooxidans'' and ''Acidovorax sp.''
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Another issue we want to address with synthetic biology is that of heat accumulation in the iron heap during the biomining process. “Generation of heap temperatures greater than 60 ̊C provided ideal temperatures for the growth of thermophilic microorganisms, although no iron- oxidizing bacteria capable of growth at 65 ̊C were detected” . We want to characterize heat resistance genes from thermophilic bacteria adapted to temperatures acquired in the heap. We will insert these genes in ''E. coli'' and test for heat resistance.
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If this approach is unsuccessful, another method to address the problem of heat is to look at bacterial quorum sensing. We have identified a heat-sensitive promoter that we would insert before a gene for mobility. This will most likely be flagella movement, for which there are existing biobricks.
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'''Manganese Biomining'''
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Manganese has been proven to provide radiation resistance, which is a crucial survival function in space. Mn biomining involves reducing Mn+4 to Mn+2. It is an enzymatic process involved in the respiratory system, in which Mn is a terminal electron acceptor . This leads to Mn accumulation within the cells, which can be extracted for use.
To colonize space, we need to extract or recycle metals as building materials. Flying up heavy-duty equipment for traditional mining is not viable economically or structurally. Bacteria are small, easy to transport, and can mine the same amount or more than traditional methods. They can be used to extract metals from sediment on solid planets, asteroids, or even metal electronics aboard spacecraft.
Our project focuses mostly on metal extraction from electronics recycling in space. Since most electronics, however, are covered with a thin layer of oxidized silica, we decided to tackle this obstacle first before delving into the actual metal mining.
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