Microbial biomineralization in the context of circular economy

Fecha: 23 de febrero de 2024.
Hora: 10:00h.
Lugar: Facultad de Ciencias, Aula B02.
Ponente: Dr. Lucian Staicu. Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland

Bacteria produce biominerals as a result of detoxification strategies, metabolic processes, controlled biomineralization (e.g. magnetosomes) and as an end product of anaerobic respiration (bacteria generate cellular energy by using various metals and metalloids as terminal electron acceptors, oxidizing organic and inorganic compounds to release and convey electrons via electron transport chains). Apart from fundamental aspects, the production of microbial biominerals may be relevant in the context of circular economy by recovering various soluble metals and metalloids from industrial effluents as solid minerals.

This presentation explores original results on the microbial biomineralization of arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) and provides evidence about the mixed microbial metabolism and the biomineralization of both elements, opening future research directions on the enzymatic systems and genetic determinants controlling this process with potential bioremediation and resource recovery applications.