Date: 29 July 2026 12-13:00 UK, online
The Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre (EBIC) and the Elemental Hub are hosting a joint webinar on Metal and Rare Earth Element (REE) Bioleaching.
Speakers for this session include Danny McNeice of Pensana and Ana Santos of the Natural History Museum. The presenters will share insights on rare earth supply chains and sustainable technologies.
Click HERE to register for this FREE event, which includes a live interactive Q&A session.
Prof Louise Horsfall, EBIC Co-I and Chair of Sustainable Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, said “Biology is highly specific, selective and sensitive to metals. Engineering Biology offers us new ways to harness this and develop zero waste technologies that support a more circular economy for metals in end-of-life materials and in mining: this webinar therefore captures a key area for both the EBIC and ELEMENTAL Hubs”.
A recent paper by Prof Horsfall confirms that applications may extend beyond earth:
Bioleaching of critical trace metals by Sphingomonas desiccabilis: substrate-driven selectivity in Earth and space analogues. Tonietti, L., Esposito, M., Leggiero, M., Bunn, F., Eades, L.J., Cordone, A., Horsfall, L., Covone, G., Cockell, C.S., Giovannelli, D. and Rotundi, A., 2026. Frontiers in Microbiology, 17, p.1741305.
And see co-author Fiona Bunn’s “I am an Environmental Biotechnologist…” poster.
EBNet has previously hosted joint events with its sister-NIBB E3B, the main progenitor of Elemental; and supported two Business Interaction Vouchers on metals bioleaching and recovery:
Feasibility study for the recovery of precious metals from incinerated bottom ash (IBA) using bioleaching technology – BIV 202401 Professor Sebastien Farnaud, Coventry University / Fortis IBA Ltd
Bioleaching application for the recovery of Minor and Rare Earth Metals from Complex Nickel Alloys Dust – BIV 202101 Professor Sebastien Farnaud, Coventry University / Advanced Alloy Services Ltd
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