Highlights

• Cornell University bioengineers a bacteria strain that increases rare earth element extraction by up to 73% using sugar-based, room-temperature processes.
• The genetically modified Gluconobacter oxydans strain provides a cleaner, cheaper method of rare earth mining with the potential to reduce environmental impact.
• This breakthrough could challenge China's dominance in rare earth processing and create more sustainable extraction techniques for critical minerals.

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In a groundbreaking development, researchers at Cornell University (opens in a new tab) have bioengineered a bacteria strain that could transform rare earth element (REE) mining, making it cleaner, cheaper, and dramatically more efficient. Published in Communications Biology (opens in a new tab) on May 27, 2025, the study, led by Alexa M. Schmitz (opens in a new tab) with corresponding author Dr. Buz Barstow (opens in a new tab), marks a major step toward environmentally responsible rare earth element (REE) production.

The team hypothesized that by rewiring the genes of the bacterium Gluconobacter oxydans, they could significantly enhance the organism's ability to extract rare earth elements from solid ores using organic acids, without relying on toxic chemicals or incurring high energy costs.

Study Method

The researchers targeted two key systems in G. oxydans:

1. Phosphate Transport Genes – They deleted a gene (pstS) that normally suppresses acid production.
2. Acid Production Genes – They enhanced a gene (mgdh) that controls the conversion of sugar into acids used to dissolve rare earths.

The Cornell-based team tested the engineered strains’ ability to extract rare earth elements from allanite ore at different rock-to-liquid (“pulp density”) ratios.

Findings

• The engineered strain (ΔpstS, P112:mgdh) increased REE extraction by 53% at a standard pulp density (10%).
• When pulp density was lowered to 1%, extraction soared to 73% above wild-type levels.
• Unlike traditional methods that use harsh acids, this process utilizes sugar and operates at room temperature, providing a biodegradable, low-impact solution.
• Although nitric acid extracted more REE overall, the engineered bacteria extracted a higher proportion of heavy rare earths, which are vital for defense and electric vehicles (EVs).

Limitations

• The engineered strain grows slightly slower than the wild type.
• The process still requires refinement for commercial-scale up.
• The precise chemical composition of the acidic cocktail, known as a biolixiviant, requires further analysis.

Conclusion & Implications

This could represent a significant leap forward in sustainable mining. By combining genetic engineering with optimized processing conditions, Cornell’s team has created a bacterial strain that rivals industrial acid leaching, without the environmental damage.

If scaled successfully, this approach could lower costs, reduce toxic waste, and provide a U.S.-based alternative to China’s near-total dominance in rare earth processing. It’s especially promising for recycling rare earths from e-waste and catalytic materials.

Commercial Outlook

The engineered G. oxydans strain is expected to make REE bioleaching commercially viable. Further optimization and industrial trials are the next steps.  So it’s still early days, but this breakthrough could be promising.  Cornell has made the strains available for academic research, and commercial licensing inquiries can be directed to Cornell Technology Licensing (opens in a new tab).

This innovation doesn’t just promise cleaner rare earth production—it could redefine the economics of supply chain independence.

Alexa M. Schmitz is now the CEO of REEgen (opens in a new tab), a young startup founded in February 2022 and spun out of research in the Barstow Lab at Cornell University, (opens in a new tab) supported by an ARPA-E grant. In September 2022, REEgen licensed its core intellectual property (IP) from Cornell's Center for Technology Licensing and was accepted into the Praxis Center for Venture Development.

Source

Schmitz et al., “High efficiency rare earth element bioleaching with systems biology guided engineering of Gluconobacter oxydans (opens in a new tab),” Communications Biology, May 27, 2025.