Bio-mineralization of rare earth elements

Onuki, Toshihiko; Jiang, M.*; Utsunomiya, Satoshi*; Tanaka, Kazuya*  

We found that Sm(III) phosphate minerals were formed on the cells surface of gram negative bacterium after exposure of Sm(III) solution with the resting cells. TEM-SAED analysis showed that Sm-monazite was developed directly from the surface of cells. Sm(III) ions were first adsorbed by the functional groups of cells surface, followed by the chemical states change by the reaction with phosphate ions released from inside the yeast cells.