Fathollahzadeh, and 3 co-authors reported in 2018 that in an era of environmental degradation, and water, and growing mineral scarcity, enhancing microbial function in sustainable mining has become a possible prerequisite for the future of the green economy. In recent years, the extensive use of rare earth elements (REEs) in green and smart technologies has led to an increase in the focus on recovery and separation of REEs from ore matrices. However, the recovery of REEs using traditional methods is complex and energy intensive, leading to the requirement to develop processes which are more economically feasible and environmentally friendly.
The use of phosphate solubilizing microorganisms for bioleaching of REEs provides a biotechnical approach for the recovery of REEs from primary and secondary sources. However, managing and understanding the microbial-mineral interactions in order to develop a successful method for bioleaching of REEs still remains a major challenge. This review focuses on the use of microbes for the bioleaching of REEs and highlights the importance of genomic studies in order to narrow down potential microorganisms for the optimal extraction of REEs.
Bioleaching of REEs is considered a greener and environmentally friendly technology than conventional techniques. Although a number of endeavors have been made to investigate the effects of PSMs on the bioleaching of phosphates and REEs from phosphate minerals, there are not enough studies of the mechanisms responsible for the mobilization of REEs. As REEs exist as either primary or secondary resources, it is mandatory to study the viability of different strains for bioleaching. Organic acids, phosphatases, bacterial attachment, phosphate regulation, the fractionation of REEs, and mineralogy determine the fate and mobility of REEs and phosphate, which is crucial for the optimal extraction of REEs. Metagenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolic studies are needed to unveil the biochemical and molecular mechanisms used by PSMs during bioleaching.
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