Bioleaching of Rare Earth Elements and Uranium from Sinai Soil, Egypt Using Actinomycetes

Abstract

The use of microorganisms in the recovery of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Uranium (U) from low grade ores provides an appropriate eco-friendly alternative to chemical methods used in extraction and/or removal of metals from soils, with a higher efficiency, less destruction to the environment, and lower cost from a commercial view especially given that high-grade mineral resources that can be used in the chemical extraction of metals are being depleted. The feasibility of using actinomycetes to recover REEsand Ufrom a low-grade ore occurring in an Egyptian soil in Wadi Abu Thor, Sinai, Egypt, was investigated. The most effective isolate in REEs-bioleaching was Streptomyces fungicidicus YH04, while the most effective isolate in U-bioleaching was Streptomyces aureofaciens 3001(1). Streptomyces fungicidicus YH04 bioleached 37.13% of the REEs present in the sample, while S. aureofaciens 3001(1) bioleached of 12.56% of the U present in the sample. The isolated strains of actinomycetes can be used to extract REEs and U by better, more economic and less polluting bioleaching processes instead of the chemical processes which are in common use today.