The Raelian Movement
for those who are not afraid of the future : http://www.rael.org
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Metal-Mining Bacteria Are Green Chemists
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100901191137.htm
ScienceDaily (Sep. 2, 2010) — Microbes could soon be used to convert
metallic wastes into high-value catalysts for generating clean energy,
say scientists writing in the September issue of Microbiology.
Researchers from the School of Biosciences at the University of
Birmingham have discovered the mechanisms that allow the common soil
bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans to recover the precious metal
palladium from industrial waste sources.
Palladium is one of the platinum group metals (PGMs) which are among
the most precious resources on earth. They possess a wide variety of
applications, due to their exceptional chemical properties. PGMs are
routinely used in many catalytic systems and are the active elements
of autocatalytic converters that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Dr Kevin Deplanche who led the study explained why new ways of
recovering PGMs are needed. "These metals are a finite resource and
this is reflected in their high market value," he said. "Over the last
10 years, demand has consistently outstripped supply and so research
into alternative ways of recovering palladium from secondary sources
is paramount to ensuring future availability of this resource."
Previous work in the team's lab showed that Desulfovibrio
desulfuricans was able to reduce palladium in industrial wastes into
metallic nanoparticles with biocatalytic activity. Now, the precise
molecules involved in the reduction process have been identified.
Hydrogenase enzymes located on the surface membrane of the bacterium
carry out the reduction of palladium, which results in the
accumulation of catalytic nanoparticles. The bacterial cells coated
with palladium nanoparticles are known as 'BioPd."
The group believes that BioPd has great potential to be used for
generating clean energy. "Research in our group has shown that BioPd
is an excellent catalyst for the treatment of persistent pollutants,
such as chromium, that is used in the paint industry. BioPd could even
be used in a proton exchange fuel cell to make clean electricity from
hydrogen," said Dr Deplanche. "Our ultimate aim is to develop a
one-step technology that allows for the conversion of metallic wastes
into high value catalysts for green chemistry and clean energy
generation," he said.
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by
ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Society for General
Microbiology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
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"Ethics" is simply a last-gasp attempt by deist conservatives and
orthodox dogmatics to keep humanity in ignorance and obscurantism,
through the well tried fermentation of fear, the fear of science and
new technologies.
There is nothing glorious about what our ancestors call history,
it is simply a succession of mistakes, intolerances and violations.
On the contrary, let us embrace Science and the new technologies
unfettered, for it is these which will liberate mankind from the
myth of god, and free us from our age old fears, from disease,
death and the sweat of labour.
Rael
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