Identification and characterization of gallium-binding peptides
Paper of the Month - #PureCube NTA Agarose
Get ready for our exciting new paper series! Join us as we explore the cutting-edge ways in which Cube Biotech products already accelerate scientific research. Our first Paper of the Month was written by Dr. Nora Schönberger, a postdoctoral researcher at the Helmholtz-Institute Freiberg for resource technology.
Her current research is focused on the development of peptide-based biomolecules that can specifically recognize and separate hypercritical materials. For this purpose, she utilized a NTA conjugated agarose loaded with gallium as a phage binding target to create such a separator. As a long-term goal, this will create a more sustainable circular economy through an effective recycling system of raw materials.
Her current research is focused on the development of peptide-based biomolecules that can specifically recognize and separate hypercritical materials. For this purpose, she utilized a NTA conjugated agarose loaded with gallium as a phage binding target to create such a separator. As a long-term goal, this will create a more sustainable circular economy through an effective recycling system of raw materials.
Gallium - critical material of the high-tech sector
The demand for rare metals has significantly increased due to developments in the high-tech sector and the entrance into the digital information age. This includes rare earth elements as well as gallium, indium, and germanium.
Gallium, which is the focus of Dr. Schönberger's research, has become essential in electronic applications such as optoelectronic components, LED elements, high-frequency technology, and photovoltaics (Zhao et al., 2012). However, only 8% of the original gallium used is ultimately found in the final products, and about 50% is recycled to date, while the rest is lost.
To improve the recycling of gallium from wastewater and solid residues, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research supports the EcoGAIN research project. The project aims to develop economical processes for waste materials containing gallium, allowing for almost 100% recovery of the gallium for reuse in industry.
Gallium, which is the focus of Dr. Schönberger's research, has become essential in electronic applications such as optoelectronic components, LED elements, high-frequency technology, and photovoltaics (Zhao et al., 2012). However, only 8% of the original gallium used is ultimately found in the final products, and about 50% is recycled to date, while the rest is lost.
To improve the recycling of gallium from wastewater and solid residues, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research supports the EcoGAIN research project. The project aims to develop economical processes for waste materials containing gallium, allowing for almost 100% recovery of the gallium for reuse in industry.
New ways in metal recovery
One approach to this is Schönberger’s biosorptive recovery of metals from contaminated industrial wastewater, which involves using a peptide-based material for the biosorption of free gallium and arsenic. In this regard, the biosorption of gallium and arsenic by gallium-binding bacteriophage clones was investigated, and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) conjugated agarose from Cube was loaded with gallium and used as the target material for phage binding.
Hence, the gallium-binding peptides were enriched using the resulting Ga-NTA. When these peptides are immobilized on a film, they can then remove gallium from industrial wastewater, greatly enhancing our rates of metal recovery.
Alternative raw material sources for the extraction of valuable high-tech metals include EOL products, landfills, metalliferous soils, low-grade ores, and mining waste dumps and their wastewater (Dodson et al., 2012). The development of processes like biosorptive recovery and the utilization of alternative sources are crucial steps toward sustainable and responsible management of rare metals in the high-tech sector.
For the development of advanced recycling methods, biotechnology offers a flexible and promising toolset. Today, many natural principles can be incorporated into modern, socially relevant approaches because they are well understood. As a result, the first step in closing the recycling management loop is to integrate biotechnological techniques with resource technology to improve the way we manage the finite resources we are given.
Hence, the gallium-binding peptides were enriched using the resulting Ga-NTA. When these peptides are immobilized on a film, they can then remove gallium from industrial wastewater, greatly enhancing our rates of metal recovery.
Alternative raw material sources for the extraction of valuable high-tech metals include EOL products, landfills, metalliferous soils, low-grade ores, and mining waste dumps and their wastewater (Dodson et al., 2012). The development of processes like biosorptive recovery and the utilization of alternative sources are crucial steps toward sustainable and responsible management of rare metals in the high-tech sector.
For the development of advanced recycling methods, biotechnology offers a flexible and promising toolset. Today, many natural principles can be incorporated into modern, socially relevant approaches because they are well understood. As a result, the first step in closing the recycling management loop is to integrate biotechnological techniques with resource technology to improve the way we manage the finite resources we are given.
Sources
- Schönberger N., Braun R., Matys S., Lederer F.L., Lehmann F., Flemming K., Pollmann K. (2019) Chromatopanning for the identification of gallium binding peptides. Journal of Chromatography A Vol. 1600, Pages 158-166, ISSN 0021-9673, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2019.04.037.
- Schönberger N. (2020) Identification and characterization of gallium-binding peptides. Dissertation Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:105-qucosa2-742985
- Dodson, J.R. et al. (2012) Elemental sustainability: Towards the total recovery of scarce metals, Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification. doi: 10.1016/j.cep.2011.09.008.
- Zhao, Z. et al. (2012) Recovery of gallium from Bayer liquor: A review, Hydrometallurgy. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2012.06.002.