Methods and organisms for concentrating and recovering metals and minerals from aqueous media

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and organisms for concentrating and recovering metals and minerals from aqueous media. In the inventive method, a eucaryotic aquatic organism capable of concentrating a metal or mineral is contacted an aqueous medium containing the metal or mineral, in order to concentrate the metal or mineral in the organism. Following concentration, the metal or mineral accumulated by the organism may be recovered. Sponges are very preferable organisms for isolating metals, e.g., gold and silver, from seawater.

1 - 22 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         23 . A method of recovering metals or minerals from aquatic media, the method comprising: 
 contacting an aquatic medium comprising at least one metal or mineral to an eucaryotic aquatic organism, which is capable of concentrating said metal or mineral, to concentrate said metal or mineral by said organism, and    recovering said concentrated metal or mineral from said organism.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said aqueous medium is seawater.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said metal or mineral is gold.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said eucaryotic organism harbors a microorganism capable of concentrating said metal or mineral.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said metal or mineral concentrated in said microorganism is also recovered.  
     
     
         28 . A method of recovering metals or minerals from aqueous media, comprising: 
 contacting an aqueous medium comprising at least one metal or mineral with an eucaryotic aquatic organism which harbors a microorganism capable of concentrating said metal or mineral, to concentrate said metal or mineral by said microorganism; and    recovering said concentrated metal or mineral from said organism.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said eucaryotic aquatic organism is an invertebrate.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said invertebrate is selected from the group consisting of sponges, mollusks, tube worms, marine annelids and polyps.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said invertebrate is a sponge.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said microorganism is transformed by the insertion of at least one gene, wherein said gene is expressed and said expression product is capable of concentrating said metal or mineral in said microorganism.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said microorganism is a bacteria.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said aqueous medium is seawater.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said metal or mineral is gold.  
     
     
         36 . A transgenic eucaryotic aquatic organism, which is capable of concentrating at least one metal or mineral from an aquatic medium, and expresses at least one heterologous gene, which encodes a protein that effects said concentration of said metal or mineral in said organism.  
     
     
         37 . An eucaryotic aquatic organism, which harbors a microorganism that is capable of concentrating at least one metal or mineral from an aqueous medium.  
     
     
         38 . A transgenic eucaryotic aquatic organism capable of concentrating at least one metal or mineral from an aqueous medium that expresses at least one heterologous gene that encodes a protein that effects said concentration of at least one metal or mineral, said organism harboring a microorganism that is also capable of concentrating said metal or mineral from said aqueous medium.  
     
     
         39 . A method of concentrating metals or minerals from aqueous media, the method comprising: 
 contacting an aqueous medium comprising at least one metal or mineral with the organism of  claim 36 , to concentrate said metal or mineral by said organism.    
     
     
         40 . A method of concentrating metals or minerals from aqueous media, the method comprising: 
 contacting an aqueous medium comprising at least one metal or mineral with the organism of  claim 37 , to concentrate the metal or mineral by said organism.    
     
     
         41 . A method of concentrating metals and minerals from aquatic media, the method comprising: 
 contacting an aqueous medium comprising at least one metal or mineral with the organism of  claim 38 , to concentrate said metal or mineral by said organism and by said microorganism.    
     
     
         42 . A method of recovering metals and minerals from aqueous media, the method comprising: 
 contacting an aqueous medium comprising at least one metal or mineral with the organism of  claim 36 , to concentrate said metal or mineral by said organism; and    recovering said concentrated metal or mineral from said organism.    
     
     
         43 . A method of recovering metals or minerals from aqueous media, the method comprising: 
 contacting an aqueous medium comprising at least one metal or mineral with the organism of  claim 37 , to concentrate said metal or mineral by said microorganism; and    recovering said concentrated metal or mineral from said microorganism.    
     
     
         44 . A method of recovering metals or minerals from aqueous media, the method comprising: 
 contacting an aqueous medium comprising at least one metal or mineral with the organism of  claim 38 , to concentrate said metal or mineral by said organism and by said microorganism; and    recovering said concentrated metal or mineral from said organism and said microorganism.