Bioflotation
The principle of Bioionflotation
Source: HZDR/HIF
Microorganisms or biomolecules are able to modify particle surface properties, which make them an effective tool for separating particles in flotation processes. The method, also known as bioflotation, exploits their ability to attach and interact with particle surfaces - for example via extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that can alter the hydrophobicity.
The Biotechnology Department investigates the application of microbial metabolites and natural products as flotation reagents. Together with processing engineers at HIF, those biotechnical reagents are being produced, characterized and tested. Another research approach uses the phage surface display technology in order to develop peptides specifically for highly selective flotation reagents (Group BioKollekt).
The team investigates the following topics:
- Identification and application of natural biological agents for particle or ion separation; development of new flotation processes, e.g. bio-ionflotation
- Selection and further development of particle-specific peptides for the application in separation processes, e.g. for recycling micro particles
- Characterization of biomolecule-particle surface interactions or biomolecule-ion interactions; gaining process understanding
- Process development for the production of biological agents in the separation process
Selected Publications
- Chakankar, M. V.; Pollmann, K.; Rudolph, M. "Selective removal of Gallium from mixed metal solutions with Arsenic by ion flotation using the biosurfactant rhamnolipid", Journal of Water Process Engineering 58(2024), 104879, DOI-Link: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.104879
- Boelens, P.; Bobeth, C.; Hinman, N.; Weiß, S.; Zhou, S.; Vogel, M.; Drobot, B.; Shams Aldin Azzam, S.; Pollmann, K.; Lederer, F.
"Peptide functionalized Dynabeads for the magnetic carrier separation of rare-earth fluorescent lamp phosphors" Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 563(2022), 169956
DOI-Link: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2022.169956 - Lederer, F. L.; Braun, R.; Schöne, L. M.; Pollmann, K.
"Identification of Peptides as alternative recycling tools via Phage Surface Display – How biology supports Geosciences", Minerals Engineering 132(2018), 245-250
DOI-Link: 10.1016/j.mineng.2018.12.010 - Luque Consuegra, G.; Kutschke, S.; Rudolph, M.; Pollmann, K.
"Halophilic bacteria as potential pyrite bio-depressants in Cu-Mo bioflotation", Minerals Engineering 145(2020), 106062
DOI-Link: 10.1016/j.mineng.2019.106062