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MOLD & BATTERIES

THE IMPORTANCE OF BIOMINERALIZATION


WHAT IS BIOMINERALIZATION?▸ Biomineralization is the

process in which organisms create minerals. Examples include silicates in algae and diatoms, carbonates in invertebrates, and calcium phosphates and carbonates in vertebrates.


IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS OF BIOMINERALIZATION

▸ Changing uranium into a less dangerous mineral.▸ Trapping lead into a less dangerous mineral form to

prevent poisoning.▸ Reclaiming and recycling rare minerals such as

cobalt and selenium. ▸ Finding sustainable biological sources of needed

minerals.


RED BREAD MOLD▸ Neurospora Crassa is a type of Red Bread Mold. Its

genus name means "nerve spore" because of the striations on the spore. I assumed that Red Bread Mold only grew on Bread, but I was wrong. It can also grow on decaying plants like tomatoes. The first documented case of Red Bread Mold was an out break in a french bakery in 1843.


WHAT IS RED BREAD MOLD’S BIOMINERALIZATION

▸ Red Bread Mold goes through manganese biomineralization. Geoff Gadd, a professor of biology at the University of Dundee in Scotland, learned that when the mold is submerged in a container with urea (a nitrogen rich compound found in fertilizers and urine) and manganese, a mineral called manganese carbonate formed around the spindly arms of the fungus.

Neurospora Crassa

Urea and manganese solution manganese carbonate

around fungus roots


HOW?▸ Neurospora Crassa

secretes an enzyme called urease. This enzyme breaks down the urea in the petri dish and turns it into ammonium and carbonate. What happens to these substances? Well, the ammonium is what the fungus eats, and the carbonate forms manganese carbonate with the manganese.


THE ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVE MINERAL

▸ Gadd found that heating this caused the manganese carbonate to form manganese oxide.

▸ Manganese oxide is an electrochemically active mineral used in rechargeable batteries. This substance had kept 90% of its power after 200 charges. This is compatible to an average marketed battery.


WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?▸ We don’t know. Of the wonderful topics that are

receiving renewed attention, the study of biomineralization is perhaps the most fascinating, and shows the most potential. Truly at the interface of earth and life, biomineralization is a subject that is certain to see major advancements, new uses, and applications in the future.


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"Electrochemistry in Mineral and Metal Processing VII." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"Bacterial Bio Lms on Electrochemically Active Cathodic Titanium Surfaces." Syracuse University SURFACE. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Could Bread Mould Build A Better Rechargeable Battery : News." University of Dundee. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

"Chromium Toxicity." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.

Li, Qianwei, Daqing Liu, Zheng Jia, Laszlo Csetenyi, and Csetenyi Michael Gadd. "Fungal Biomineralization of Manganese as a Novel Source of Electrochemical Materials." Current Biology (n.d.): n. pag. Print.

"Biomineralization." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

"Red Bread Mold May Be Used For Better Rechargeable Batteries." News Every Day RSS. N.p., 18 Mar. 2016. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

"This Scientist Found a Way to Make Battery Parts with Bread Mold." Vox. N.p., 27 Mar. 2016. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.

"Electrode." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.

"Lithium Ion Battery Advantages & Disadvantages." :: Radio-Electronics.Com. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2016.

"BU-307: How Does Electrolyte Work?" – Battery University. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2016.

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