Energy News  
TECH SPACE
Uncovering bacterial role in platinum formation
by Staff Writers
Adelaide, Australia (SPX) Mar 24, 2016


Panning for platinum grains in Brazil: Frank Reith, University of Adelaide, and Barbara Etschmann, Monash University. Image courtesy University of Adelaide. For a larger version of this image please go here.

Australian scientists have uncovered the important role of specialist bacteria in the formation and movement of platinum and related metals in surface environments. Published in the journal Nature Geoscience, the research has important implications for the future exploration of platinum group metals.

"These platinum group elements are strategically important metals, but finding new deposits is becoming increasingly difficult due to our limited understanding of the processes that affect the way they are cycled through surface environments," says project leader Dr Frank Reith, Senior Lecturer in the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences and Visiting Researcher at CSIRO Land and Water.

"This research reveals the key role of bacteria in these processes. This improved bio geochemical understanding is not only important from a scientific perspective but we hope will also lead to new and better ways of exploring for these metals."

Platinum group metals, especially platinum and palladium, are highly prized 'noble' metals used in a wide range of industrial processes. Ensuring adequate supplies is challenging and enhanced exploration is considered a global priority.

This project is a collaboration with Monash University (Professor Joel Brugger and Dr Barbara Etschmann) and Mineral Resources Tasmania (Ralph Bottrill). Other partners include the University of Queensland, University of Western Australia, RMIT and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany.

"Traditionally it was thought that these platinum group metals only formed under high pressure and temperature systems deep underground, and that when they were brought to the surface through weathering and uplift, they just sat there and nothing further happened to them," says Dr Reith.

"We've shown that that is far from the case. We've linked specialised bacterial communities, found in biofilms on the grains of platinum group minerals at three separate locations around the world, with the dispersion and re-concentration of these elements in surface environments.

"We've shown that nuggets of platinum and related metals can be reformed at the surface through bacterial processes."

The study has investigated platinum group elements from Brazil, Colombia and the Australian state of Tasmania.

Monash University Professor Joel Brugger says: "We needed to find fresh grains of platinum group minerals and extract them from soils and sediments in a manner that preserves fragile biofilms and tell-tale DNA. These grains are incredibly rare, and the chase took us all over the world, from Tasmania to Brazil."

The researchers found live bacterial biofilms on mineral grains from all three sites using scanning electron microscopy. They had been suggested previously but never before shown to exist. They also showed that the mineral grains found at the Brazil site were bio-organic in origin, further supporting the role of the bacteria in the secondary formation of platinum grains.

"We've shown the biofilms occur across a range of platinum-group-metal grains and in different locations," says Dr Reith. "And we've shown, that at the Brazil site at least, the entire process of formation of platinum and palladium was mediated by microbes."

The work builds on more than 10 years of research in gold, which has uncovered the role of micro-organisms in driving the Earth's gold cycle.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
University of Adelaide
Space Technology News - Applications and Research






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
TECH SPACE
How electrons travel through exotic new material
Princeton NJ (SPX) Mar 22, 2016
Researchers at Princeton University have observed a bizarre behavior in a strange new crystal that could hold the key for future electronic technologies. Unlike most materials in which electrons travel on the surface, in these new materials the electrons sink into the depths of the crystal through special conductive channels. "It is like these electrons go down a rabbit hole and show up on ... read more


TECH SPACE
Transforming the US transportation system by 2050 to address climate challenges

Economic growth no longer translates into more greenhouse gas: IEA

Long march in Bangladesh against Sundarbans power plant

China emissions goals less ambitious than 2015 cuts: plan

TECH SPACE
Pumping up energy storage with metal oxides

Could bread mold build a better rechargeable battery?

Advanced energy storage material gets unprecedented nanoscale analysis

Hot rocks: Kenya taps geothermal heat to boost power

TECH SPACE
Statoil testing battery storage for wind energy

Small-scale wind energy on the rise

Re-thinking renewable energy predictions

Xinjiang Goldwind now world's top wind turbine producer

TECH SPACE
Industry tightens screws on solar panel safety

Lockheed Martin forms energy group

Ingeteam Test Labs join Intertek's global SATELLITE program

Building better solar technologies for deep space missions

TECH SPACE
France's EDF to decide on UK nuclear plant by May: Macron

China's advanced meltdown-free nuclear plant gets core component

Vessel carrying plutonium departs Japan port for US

Researchers crack 50-year-old nuclear waste problem, make storage safer

TECH SPACE
The flexible way to greater energy yield

Smaller, cheaper microbial fuel cells turn urine into electricity

Generating electricity with tomato waste

Lockheed and Concord Blue to build new bioenergy facility in Germany

TECH SPACE
China to establish first commercial rocket launch company

China's ambition after space station

Sky is the limit for China's national strategy

Aim Higher: China Plans to Send Rover to Mars in 2020

TECH SPACE
Climate variations analyzed 5 million years back in time

Plants won't boost global warming as much as feared: study

Zimbabwe faces worst malnutrition in 15 years: UNICEF

Human influence on climate dates back to 1930s









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.