Copper mining bacteria: Converting toxic copper ions into a stable single-atom copper
Louise Hase Gracioso, Janire Peña‐Bahamonde, Bruno Karolski, Bruna Bacaro Borrego, Elen Aquino Perpétuo, Cláudio Augusto Oller do Nascimento, Hiroki Hashiguchi, María A. Juliano, Francisco C. Robles Hernández, Débora F. Rodrigues
Abstract
production is proposed via proteomics analysis. This microbial conversion is carried out naturally under aerobic conditions eliminating toxic solvents. One of the most advanced commercially available transmission electron microscopy systems on the market (NeoArm) was used to demonstrate the abundant intracellular synthesis of single-atom zero-valent copper by this bacterium. This finding shows that microbes in acid mine drainages can naturally extract metal ions, such as copper, and transform them into a valuable commodity.