Microbes in shining armour: exploring copper reduction by carboxydotrophic microorganisms

The increasing use of electronics in our society causes a soaring demand for copper. This results in generation of metal rich waste streams due to increased mining activity.

These waste streams are difficult and expensive to treat with current methods and pose a severe danger to the environment.

This project aims to identify and study carbon monoxide utilizing microorganisms (carboxydotrophs) that target copper for reduction and precipitation from solution.

The outcome of this research will provide fundamental insight in carboxydotrophic metal metabolism as well as a potential basis for development of a sustainable metal recovery method.