Presented By: Chemical Engineering
ChE SEMINAR: Scott Banta, Columbia University
B10 Auditorium
Biotechnology for Critical Materials Production
Scott Banta
Professor and Chair of Chemical Engineering
Columbia University, New York, NY
Scott Banta Ph.D. is Professor and Chair of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University. He received his B.S.E. degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Rutgers University. He did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Shriners and Massachusetts General Hospitals and Harvard Medical School. He began his faculty career in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University in 2004 and his research has focused on the engineering of proteins and peptides for various applications in areas including biocatalysis, bioelectrocatalysis, biomaterials, gene and drug delivery, biosensing, and bioenergy. His group is also developing new biotechnology platforms for energy harvesting and conversion as well as metal and mineral processing.
The global transition towards electrification will require tremendous growth in the production of critical materials, and biotechnology is providing new solutions to this grand challenge. Metal oxidizing bacteria are critically important for the hydrometallurgical processing of copper, gold, and other sulfidic ores. Approximately 20% of the world’s copper production involves microbial oxidation of minerals in the world’s largest bioreactors. We have pioneered the development of genetic tools for the engineering and application of the iron and sulfur oxidizing chemolithoautotrophic acidophile, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. We gained new insights into their unique physiology and engineered them for new traits including accelerated growth, enhanced bioleaching, salt tolerance, and critical material reclamation. In addition to cells, we are also invested in using biomolecular engineering to improve critical metal binding and separation. We have recently developed new proteins for rare earth element and other critical material bioseparations under acidic conditions. Throughout the talk I will highlight the substantial challenges and opportunities that come with the development of biotechnology solutions in this space.
Biotechnology for Critical Materials Production
Scott Banta
Professor and Chair of Chemical Engineering
Columbia University, New York, NY
Scott Banta Ph.D. is Professor and Chair of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University. He received his B.S.E. degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Rutgers University. He did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Shriners and Massachusetts General Hospitals and Harvard Medical School. He began his faculty career in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University in 2004 and his research has focused on the engineering of proteins and peptides for various applications in areas including biocatalysis, bioelectrocatalysis, biomaterials, gene and drug delivery, biosensing, and bioenergy. His group is also developing new biotechnology platforms for energy harvesting and conversion as well as metal and mineral processing.
The global transition towards electrification will require tremendous growth in the production of critical materials, and biotechnology is providing new solutions to this grand challenge. Metal oxidizing bacteria are critically important for the hydrometallurgical processing of copper, gold, and other sulfidic ores. Approximately 20% of the world’s copper production involves microbial oxidation of minerals in the world’s largest bioreactors. We have pioneered the development of genetic tools for the engineering and application of the iron and sulfur oxidizing chemolithoautotrophic acidophile, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. We gained new insights into their unique physiology and engineered them for new traits including accelerated growth, enhanced bioleaching, salt tolerance, and critical material reclamation. In addition to cells, we are also invested in using biomolecular engineering to improve critical metal binding and separation. We have recently developed new proteins for rare earth element and other critical material bioseparations under acidic conditions. Throughout the talk I will highlight the substantial challenges and opportunities that come with the development of biotechnology solutions in this space.
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