CMI Webinar: Genetic strategies for commercializing rare earth biomanufacturing

For the CMI Webinar in August 2024, guest speaker Alexa Schmitz, REEgen, described "Genetic strategies for commercializing rare earth biomanufacturing."

Rare earth elements (REE) are critical for manufacturing many modern electronics and sustainable energy technologies, including electric motors and wind turbine generators, solid state lighting, battery anodes, high-temperature superconductors, and high-strength lightweight alloys. Such applications are increasing demands on the global REE supply, which is predominantly controlled outside of the United States due to the cost of environmental regulations and labor. REEgen is developing a low-cost end-to-end biological system for sustainable REE recovery that will replace the most environmentally damaging steps from source to market. The core technologies for this system were invented at Cornell University by the co-founders of REEgen, who founded the company to translate its potential impacts to a commercial reality. Their end-to-end biological system for REE recovery includes three major steps: bio-extraction, bio-selection, and bio-separation. All three steps involve innovations that replace a traditional method that ordinarily requires large amounts of toxic chemicals and energy inputs. The use of microorganisms for each step allows genomics to be leveraged for rapid customization to a variety of REE feedstocks (i.e. virgin ore, coal ash, recycled heterogeneous catalysts, e-waste), with the end goal of creating a circular economy for REE production and recycling within the United States. REEgen is utilizing genomic engineering strategies, including high-throughput rapid evolution with microfluidics to improve efficiency and optimize commercial aspects of each step. Several improvement strategies have been applied, and prospects for future innovation and collaboration.