CHEME7900 Seminar: Scott Banta (Columbia)

Biotechnology for Critical Materials Production The global transition towards electrification will require tremendous growth in the production of critical materials, and biotechnology is providing new solutions to this grand challenge. Metal oxidizing bacteria are critically important for the hydrometallurgical processing of copper, gold, and other sulfidic ores. Approximately 20% of the world’s copper production involves microbial oxidation of minerals in the world’s largest bioreactors. We have pioneered the development of genetic tools for the engineering and application of the iron and sul