Gallium-binding peptides as a tool for the sustainable treatment of industrial waste streams

Metalliferous process wastewater not only represents a major ecotoxicological burden but can also serve as a secondary raw material source for the recovery of critical raw materials (CRM) like gallium. Smart, innovative strategies are needed for the economic recovery of industrial metals from such CRM sources. Biotechnological approaches are powerful tools to develop effective, selective and eco-friendly strategies in resource recovery. A particularly promising approach utilizes tailor-made biomolecules (such as peptides), that can be engineered to aid in the targeted extraction of individual metals. The application of phage Surface Display technology allows the directed molecular evolution of peptide ligands. This method has been used to identify the Ga-binding peptides TMHHAAIAHPPH, NYLPHQSSSPSR, SQALSTSRQDLR, HTQHIQSDDHLA and NDLQRHRLTAGP. In this study, the metal-binding properties of these peptides were further characterized. The peptides differed decisively in their interaction with gallium; in some cases, complex formation with gallium was strongly dependent on the surrounding buffer conditions. The peptide with the amino acid sequence NYLPHQSSSPSR showed the most promising gallium-binding properties. The site-selective and covalent immobilization of the gallium-binding peptide on polystyrene beads resulted in a robust and efficient material. It is suitable for the selective adsorption and desorption of gallium from industrial wastewater utilizing citric acid as environmentally friendly eluent. Biosorption studies performed with model and real water samples showed an up to ten-fold better adsorption of gallium as well as its effective separation from other contaminants like arsenic. Computer modeling suggests the probable structure of the peptide in aqueous solution and postulate a possible binding site for gallium.