The current uncertainty in the global supply of rare earth elements (REEs) necessitates the development of novel extraction technologies that utilize a variety of REE source materials. Herein, we examined the techno-economic performance of integrating a biosorption approach into a large-scale process for producing salable total rare earth oxides (TREOs) from various feedstocks. An airlift bioreactor is proposed to carry out a biosorption process mediated by bioengineered rare earth-adsorbing bacteria. Techno-economic assessments were compared for three distinctive categories of REE feedstocks requiring different pre-processing steps. Key parameters identified that affect profitability include REE concentration, composition of the feedstock, and costs of feedstock pretreatment and waste management. Among the 11 specific feedstocks investigated, coal ash from the Appalachian Basin was projected to be the most profitable, largely due to its high-value REE content. Its cost breakdown includes pre-processing (leaching primarily, 77.1%), biosorption (19.4%), and oxalic acid precipitation and TREO roasting (3.5%). Surprisingly, biosorption from the high-grade Bull Hill REE ore is less profitable due to high material cost and low production revenue. Overall, our results confirmed that the application of biosorption to low-grade feedstocks for REE recovery is economically viable.

This submission includes data collected from experiments on the performance of rare earth adsorption by immobilized bacteria that accompany the FY18 Q2 and Q3 quarter reports. Relevant information from these reports is included in a resource below. The spreadsheet below includes data from the following three experiments: REE Bioadsorption from buffer solution by Caulobacter biofilms. REE Bioadsorption from mock geothermal fluids by Caulobacter biofilms. REE biosorption capacity and its temperature dependence with Mutag Biochips.

This submission includes data collected from experiments on the performance of rare earth adsorption by immobilized bacteria that accompany the FY18 Q2 and Q3 quarter reports. Relevant information from these reports is included in a resource below. The spreadsheet below includes data from the following three experiments: REE Bioadsorption from buffer solution by Caulobacter biofilms. REE Bioadsorption from mock geothermal fluids by Caulobacter biofilms. REE biosorption capacity and its temperature dependence with Mutag Biochips.

The DWW (Drainage and Waste Water) GSI (Green Stormwater Infrastructure) layer consists of line and polygon representations of the following features: Swales (biofiltration, bioretention, biofiltration/bioretention, and conveyance) are generally shallow depressions with a designed mix of soil and plants which break down pollutants through natural processes while reducing runoff. Permeable pavement is a paving system which allows rainfall to percolate into an underlying soil or aggregate storage reservoir. Underdrain piping systems are provided to prevent prolonged ponding of stormwater or to collect and convey water to another facility. Rain gardens are less engineered systems that are designed to mitigate water from the sidewalk only and have two inches or less of ponded depth. The drainage structures represented in the GSI points are not all unique to GSI, however, they are specifically part of SPU GSI projects.,

The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate an anerobic treatment system designed to overcome limitations associated with mass transfer resistances caused by fouling of dissolved methane recovery membranes in anaerobic membrane bioreactors. To this end, a novel attached growth anaerobic treatment system designed to emphasize the growth of the attached biofilm, rather than its removal, to optimize reactor performance. To accomplish this, a methane producing biofilm was developed on the shell side surface of submerged hollow fiber membranes, which allowed for immediate recovery of methane as it was produced, negating the liquid boundary layer and mass transfer fouling resistances. Impacts of membrane surface treatment on biofilm development were investigated as well. Details of the performance and characterization of the anaerobic treatment system can be found in DAMBR_Performance_and_Characterization_Data.xlsx. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Crone, B., G. Sorial, J. Pressman, H. Ryu, S. Keely, N. Brinkman, C. Bennett-Stamper, and J. Garland. Design and Evaluation of Degassed Anaerobic Membrane Biofilm Reactors for Improved Methane Recovery. Bioresource Technology Reports. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, 10: 100407, (2020).

The DWW (Drainage and Waste Water) GSI (Green Stormwater Infrastructure) layer consists of line and polygon representations of the following features: Swales (biofiltration, bioretention, biofiltration/bioretention, and conveyance) are generally shallow depressions with a designed mix of soil and plants which break down pollutants through natural processes while reducing runoff. Permeable pavement is a paving system which allows rainfall to percolate into an underlying soil or aggregate storage reservoir. Underdrain piping systems are provided to prevent prolonged ponding of stormwater or to collect and convey water to another facility. Rain gardens are less engineered systems that are designed to mitigate water from the sidewalk only and have two inches or less of ponded depth. The drainage structures represented in the GSI points are not all unique to GSI, however, they are specifically part of SPU GSI projects.,

This study calculated the cumulative energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) life cycle and cost profiles of transitional aerobic membrane bioreactors (AeMBR) and anaerobic MBRs (AnMBR). Membrane bioreactors (MBR) represent a promising technology for decentralized wastewater treatment and can produce recycled water to displace potable water. Energy recovery is also possible with methane generated from AnMBRs. In this study, scenarios for these technologies were investigated for different scale systems serving various population densities under various climate conditions with multiple methane recovery options. Details of the GHG life cycle and cost profiles for the AeMBR and AnMBR can be found in AeMBR_LCI_Cost_9-9-15.xls and AnMBR_LCI_Cost_9-9-15.xls respectively. Results of the previously described comparisons can be found can be found in MBR_LCIAResults_9-9-15.xlsx. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Cashman, S., C. Ma, J. Mosley, J. Garland, B. Crone, and X. Xue. Energy and greenhouse gas life cycle assessment and cost analysis of aerobic and anaerobic membrane bioreactor systems: Influence of scale, population density, climate, and methane recovery. Bioresource Technology. Elsevier Online, New York, NY, USA, 254: 56-66, (2018).

This study calculated the cumulative energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) life cycle and cost profiles of transitional aerobic membrane bioreactors (AeMBR) and anaerobic MBRs (AnMBR). Membrane bioreactors (MBR) represent a promising technology for decentralized wastewater treatment and can produce recycled water to displace potable water. Energy recovery is also possible with methane generated from AnMBRs. In this study, scenarios for these technologies were investigated for different scale systems serving various population densities under various climate conditions with multiple methane recovery options. Details of the GHG life cycle and cost profiles for the AeMBR and AnMBR can be found in AeMBR_LCI_Cost_9-9-15.xls and AnMBR_LCI_Cost_9-9-15.xls respectively. Results of the previously described comparisons can be found can be found in MBR_LCIAResults_9-9-15.xlsx. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Cashman, S., C. Ma, J. Mosley, J. Garland, B. Crone, and X. Xue. Energy and greenhouse gas life cycle assessment and cost analysis of aerobic and anaerobic membrane bioreactor systems: Influence of scale, population density, climate, and methane recovery. Bioresource Technology. Elsevier Online, New York, NY, USA, 254: 56-66, (2018).

The DWW (Drainage and Waste Water) GSI (Green Stormwater Infrastructure) layer consists of line and polygon representations of the following features: Swales (biofiltration, bioretention, biofiltration/bioretention, and conveyance) are generally shallow depressions with a designed mix of soil and plants which break down pollutants through natural processes while reducing runoff. Permeable pavement is a paving system which allows rainfall to percolate into an underlying soil or aggregate storage reservoir. Underdrain piping systems are provided to prevent prolonged ponding of stormwater or to collect and convey water to another facility. Rain gardens are less engineered systems that are designed to mitigate water from the sidewalk only and have two inches or less of ponded depth. The drainage structures represented in the GSI points are not all unique to GSI, however, they are specifically part of SPU GSI projects.,