Bioengineered Frameworks to Separate Rare Earth Elements

Patent Status

Patent Pending

Brief Description

UC Berkeley researchers have developed a versatile platform of engineered non-living, semi-living, and living frameworks designed for programmable metal and molecule separation. By integrating metal-binding peptides (MBPs) with stimulus-responsive peptides (SRPs), these systems enable precise, on-demand capture and release of target compounds from complex liquid environments. The technology can be deployed as protein-based hydrogels, bacteriophage nanoparticles, or living bacterial systems, offering unmatched flexibility across industries.

Suggested uses

• Extraction of precious metals (e.g., gold, platinum)
• Recovery of battery-critical elements (lithium, cobalt, nickel)
• Isolation of rare earth elements from ores and electronic waste
• Removal of toxic heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury) from wastewater
• Cleanup of contaminated industrial and mining sites

Advantages

• Trigger binding and release via defined stimuli (e.g., pH, temperature, light), enabling reusable systems
• Adaptable across non-living, semi-living, and living frameworks for different operational needs
• Reduces reliance on expensive, multi-step separation processes like chromatography
• Supports greener recovery of valuable resources and remediation of pollutants
• Performs effectively in challenging environments such as wastewater, ores, and fermentation broths