Methods and organisms for concentrating and recovering metals and minerals from aqueous media
OwnerJohn Shannon, John R. Huffmaninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and organisms for concentrating and recovering metals and minerals from aqueous media. In the inventive method, a eucaryotic aquatic organism capable of concentrating a metal or mineral is contacted an aqueous medium containing the metal or mineral, in order to concentrate the metal or mineral in the organism. Following concentration, the metal or mineral accumulated by the organism may be recovered. Sponges are very preferable organisms for isolating metals, e.g, gold and silver, from seawater.
Claims22
A method of recovering metals and minerals from aqueous media, comprising:
- contacting an aqueous medium comprising at least one metal or mineral an eucaryotic aquatic organism capable of concentrating the metal or mineral, to concentrate the metal or mineral in the organism;
- and
- recovering the concentrated metal or mineral from the organism.
A method of recovering metals and minerals from aqueous media, comprising:
- contacting an aqueous medium comprising at least one metal or mineral with an eucaryotic aquatic organism which harbors a microorganism capable of concentrating the metal or mineral, to concentrate the metal or mineral in the microorganism;
- and
- recovering the concentrated metal or mineral from the microorganism.
A transgenic eucaryotic aquatic organism which is capable of concentrating at least one metal or mineral from an aqueous medium and expresses at least one heterologous gene which encodes a protein that effects the concentration of the metal or mineral in the organism.
A eucaryotic aquatic organism which harbors a microorganism that is capable of concentrating at least one metal or mineral from an aqueous medium.
A transgenic eucaryotic aquatic organism which is capable of concentrating at least one metal or mineral from an aqueous medium, expresses at least one heterologous gene which encodes a protein that effects the concentration of the metal or mineral in the organism, and harbors a microorganism that is capable of concentrating the metal or mineral from an aqueous medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.