Sustainable Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Mining Wastewater and Urban Runoff Streams Using Microalgal Systems (BioREEcover)

The BioREEcover project aims to develop a sustainable biotechnology-based strategy for selective recovery of rare earth elements (REEs, lanthanides) from Swedish mining wastewater, road runoff, and stormwater from large industrial areas. REEs are strategic critical raw materials underpinning renewable energy, electrification, and advanced technologies, yet their current supply relies on environmentally intensive extraction processes.

This project investigates freshwater microalgae and marine thraustochytrids capable of selectively binding REE³⁺ ions through cell-surface carboxyl and phosphate functional groups as well as CAMM-CRM Seed Funding Application 2026, LTU-1805-2026 2 intracellular phosphate-rich granules. These biological mechanisms enable metal sequestration under mild, environmentally relevant conditions. Laboratory-scale experiments will evaluate uptake efficiency, selectivity in multi-metal systems, and recovery via controlled desorption. Analytical characterization (ICP-MS, SEM-EDS, XRD) will clarify adsorption mechanisms and potential biomineral formation. By integrating wastewater remediation with recovery of critical metals from mining and urban runoff streams, BioREEcover contributes to CAMM-CRM’s mission to advance sustainable and circular solutions for critical raw materials.