Yes I am. US DOE grants and patents and expert. Interesting link, and news, thanks.
Rx grade bioreactors use genetically engineering bacteria to make Vitamin B-12.
Vitamin B-12 has one key REE, Rare Earth Element known as Cobalt in it.
Humans digestive Biomes, gut bacteria, make B-12 but only if the trace, REE Cobalt is available in what we eat. Another curious topic is that the Mitochondria, the mini batteries in our bodies cells need B-12 for the Quinone / Hydro-Quinone battery in the Mitochondria to work. Harvard University in recent years build a newer version of the ones I built in 1981... There are a whole lot of practical limits and issues and complete system design issues, that must be customized for each waste water stream (something I did for 30 years). It is a bit experimental for each waste stream, and not just plug and play, but it is doable. Not all waste water streams would profitable or practical, but the right ones could be gold mines. I designed and custom build one to mine gold (mostly) from waste water from a gold jewelry plating operation in 1980s.
Short answer, yes, plants and plant cells, and bacteria can Bio-Accumulate rare Earth metals, and recover them. Zeolites, Micro and ultra-filtration, and ion exchange resins also can be used... and various combinations. Need to get the patent number so I can download it and examine it, if it is issued or at least published.
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