Project: The BioGeoMetals research school – biogeochemical methods for sustaianable metal recycling
The BioGeoMetals research school focuses on biological methods for metal recovery. Through so-called biomining and bioremediation, microorganisms are used to mobilize or capture metals from mining waste – without the need for strong chemicals or large amounts of energy.
Project information
Project manager
Mark Dopson, Linnaeus University
Other project members
Lena Alakangas, Sadia Ilyas, Thomas Aiglsperger, Luleå tekniska universitet, Kerstin Forsberg, Kungliga tekniska högskolan
Participating organisations
Linnaeus University, Luleå tekniska universitet, och Kungliga tekniska högskolan
Funder
Vetenskapsrådet Forskarskolor inom gruv- och mineralområdet
Timetable
2025-12-01 till 2030-11-30
Subject
Ecology (Department of Biology of Environmental Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences)
Research group
Systems Biology of Microorganisms
Linnaeus University Centre (Lnuc)
Linnaeus University Centre for the Environment (CENWIN), Linnaeus University Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS)
Knowledge Environment
Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Water
More about the project
The mining and minerals sector accounts for an estimated 4–7% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, while the shift to clean energy is sharply increasing the demand for Strategic and Critical Raw Materials (SCRM), making it vital to transform this traditionally polluting industry. Sweden, with its long mining history of particularly base metals sulfides and iron oxide ores, has a legacy of solid and liquid wastes that still contain considerable amounts of valuable metals. Unlocking these resources by recovering metals from waste would not only reduce environmental stress but also secure a more reliable supply of SCRM for Europe.
The Biogeochemical Approaches to Sustainable Metal Recovery (BioGeoMetals) research school explores exactly this idea. It focuses on “biomining” and “bioremediation”, which use naturally occurring microorganisms to either capture or mobilize metals from mine waste. Instead of harsh chemicals and high energy input, these bio-based processes offer cleaner, more sustainable ways of recovering valuable metals with far less environmental impact. Seven interconnected doctoral projects will take on the existing issues with local mining from multiple perspectives: - identifying the metals present in mining waste; studying microbial communities and how they interact with metals; developing selective bioprocesses and controlled-transformation to crystal growth for industrial use; and cleaning contaminated water through biological processes. Additionally, one project will assess the environmental and economic performance of these methods to ensure their true sustainability.
Students will receive interdisciplinary training that bridges biology, chemistry, geology, process engineering, and environmental science. Through joint courses, seminars, international exchanges, and industrial collaboration, they will gain both scientific expertise and practical insight to advance sustainable resource use and support a greener future for Europe’s mining and mineral industries.
The project is part of the research within the research group Systems Biology of Microorganisms, the Linnaeus University Centre for the Environment (CENWIN) and Linnaeus University Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS) and the Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Water.