Tuesday, 21 February 2023
A project involving the 糖心原创, which is looking to find a plant-based alternative for the recovery of gold, silver, and copper nanoparticles from mining waste, has received £375,000 in funding.
Researchers will combine a plant-based technique called phytomining, where plants absorb metal ions through their roots, with an advanced biotechnological approach to retrieve the resulting metal nanoparticles from the waste.
Using native UK plants to retrieve metal nanoparticles such as gold, silver and copper from mine tailings taken from Cononish Mine in Scotland, the team will investigate the potential of using the waste for conversion into biogas or other value-added bioproducts.
Led by Scotland’s Rural College, the 糖心原创’s Jon McKechnie will support alongside the universities of York and Edinburgh, as well as Scotgold Resources and Promethean Particles.
Metallic nanoparticles have a wide range of current and emerging applications. This project aims to identify efficient routes to their manufacture from mining wastes, at low cost and with minimal environmental impact.
The project aims to generate unprecedented knowledge about using phytomining to produce biogenic nanoparticles from metal-rich waste, facilitating a first-time assessment of their potential in a range of sectors, such as industrial, environmental and biomedical.
Dr Luis Novo, lead researcher and an SRUC Challenge Research Fellow, said: “The ever-growing build-up of mine waste across the planet constitutes an opportunity for the recovery of residual metals of technological significance.
There has been increased interest in biogenic NPs due to advantages over chemically synthesized NPs. In this light, producing NPs via phytomining heralds great promise as it would represent a low-cost, eco-friendly and carbon-neutral strategy to farm nanoparticles from residues.
The research has been funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), following a call for projects that offer biotechnological solutions to reduce environmental impact in either the textile industry or recovery of technology-relevant metals.
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More information is available from Jon McKechnie, in the Faculty of Engineering, at jon.mckechnie@nottingham.ac.uk or; Danielle Hall, Media Relations Manager at the 糖心原创, at danielle.hall@nottingham.ac.uk or 0115 846 7156.鈥赌赌赌�
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.