An exploratory study on the possibilities of microalgal biotechnology to obtain the essential 6Li isotope as fusion fuel

Abstract Future energy supply needs to overcome two challenges: environmental impact and dependence on geopolitically unstable countries. A very promising alternative is based on lithium, an element for batteries, and whose isotope 6Li will be essential in nuclear fusion. The objective of this resea...

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Main Authors: Camino García-Balboa, Paloma Martínez-Alesón, Victoria López-Rodas, Eduardo Costas Costas, Marta Fernández Díaz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-09-01
Series:Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-023-02394-0
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author Camino García-Balboa
Paloma Martínez-Alesón
Victoria López-Rodas
Eduardo Costas Costas
Marta Fernández Díaz
author_facet Camino García-Balboa
Paloma Martínez-Alesón
Victoria López-Rodas
Eduardo Costas Costas
Marta Fernández Díaz
author_sort Camino García-Balboa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Future energy supply needs to overcome two challenges: environmental impact and dependence on geopolitically unstable countries. A very promising alternative is based on lithium, an element for batteries, and whose isotope 6Li will be essential in nuclear fusion. The objective of this research has been to determine if it is possible to achieve isotopic fractionation of lithium through a process mediated by microalgae. For this purpose, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was selected and grown in presence of 5 mg/L of lithium. Results revealed that this specie survives at the selected lithium concentration, discriminates isotopes and preferentially capture 6Li (6δ = 10.029 ± 3.307) through a process independent of the cellular growth. Concomitate recovered up 0.206 mg/L of lithium along a process of 21 days. The result of this study lets to affirm that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii might be used to obtain lithium enriched in the lighter isotope.
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spelling doaj.art-4ec2960ec1f845c991ddbd8d50e8bfdf2023-11-26T12:36:12ZengBMCBiotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts2731-36542023-09-011611910.1186/s13068-023-02394-0An exploratory study on the possibilities of microalgal biotechnology to obtain the essential 6Li isotope as fusion fuelCamino García-Balboa0Paloma Martínez-Alesón1Victoria López-Rodas2Eduardo Costas Costas3Marta Fernández Díaz4School of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of MadridSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of MadridSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of MadridSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of MadridSpanish Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT)Abstract Future energy supply needs to overcome two challenges: environmental impact and dependence on geopolitically unstable countries. A very promising alternative is based on lithium, an element for batteries, and whose isotope 6Li will be essential in nuclear fusion. The objective of this research has been to determine if it is possible to achieve isotopic fractionation of lithium through a process mediated by microalgae. For this purpose, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was selected and grown in presence of 5 mg/L of lithium. Results revealed that this specie survives at the selected lithium concentration, discriminates isotopes and preferentially capture 6Li (6δ = 10.029 ± 3.307) through a process independent of the cellular growth. Concomitate recovered up 0.206 mg/L of lithium along a process of 21 days. The result of this study lets to affirm that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii might be used to obtain lithium enriched in the lighter isotope.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-023-02394-0Fusion energyMicroalgaeLithiumEnrichmentMetal uptake
spellingShingle Camino García-Balboa
Paloma Martínez-Alesón
Victoria López-Rodas
Eduardo Costas Costas
Marta Fernández Díaz
An exploratory study on the possibilities of microalgal biotechnology to obtain the essential 6Li isotope as fusion fuel
Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts
Fusion energy
Microalgae
Lithium
Enrichment
Metal uptake
title An exploratory study on the possibilities of microalgal biotechnology to obtain the essential 6Li isotope as fusion fuel
title_full An exploratory study on the possibilities of microalgal biotechnology to obtain the essential 6Li isotope as fusion fuel
title_fullStr An exploratory study on the possibilities of microalgal biotechnology to obtain the essential 6Li isotope as fusion fuel
title_full_unstemmed An exploratory study on the possibilities of microalgal biotechnology to obtain the essential 6Li isotope as fusion fuel
title_short An exploratory study on the possibilities of microalgal biotechnology to obtain the essential 6Li isotope as fusion fuel
title_sort exploratory study on the possibilities of microalgal biotechnology to obtain the essential 6li isotope as fusion fuel
topic Fusion energy
Microalgae
Lithium
Enrichment
Metal uptake
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-023-02394-0
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